Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is a major therapeutic challenge and a public health priority in both the US and Europe. More than two decades after the word was first used to define a distinct clinical condition, the definition of sarcopenia remains  open for discussion,nd its clinical relevance is still not fully understood. This book provides some answers.  It is a valuable addition to the existing literature, providing a one–stop shop for state–of–the–art information on a topic of particular relevance for geriatricians and all those who care for the older population. Sarcopenia has serious health consequences of sarcopenia in terms of frailty, disability, morbidity, and mortality. Identifying high risk groups of older people is straightforward, but making a diagnosis is more difficult. Having addressed the definition of sarcopenia the book therefore goes on to discuss current open questions that concern the clinical management of the condition.  Chapters cover nosology, pathophysiology, clinical identification, and treatment: for example, is sarcopenia a normal part of the ageing process? When does it become a disease state? Is it only a morphologic or functional abnormality, or is it an age–related disease?  Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of sarcopenia are covered, as well as possible methods of prevention and treatment options. Defines and explains the clinical relevance of sarcopenia Covers all recent scientific evidence Discusses treatment options Considers ways of prevention Written by experts in the field from both the US and Europe, this book will be of practical interest to geriatricians, clinicians and professionals working in nursing homes, nutrition and sport medicine. It is also a valuable and comprehensive reference work for professionals, post–graduates and researchers on age–related diseases, disability, nutrition and geriatric medicine.

List of Contributors vii Preface xi 1 Epidemiology of Muscle Mass Loss with Age 1 Marjolein Visser 2 Definitions of Sarcopenia 8 John E. Morley and Alfonso J. Cruz–Jentoft 3 Muscle Biology and mTORC1 Signaling in Aging 20 Blake B. Rasmussen and Elena Volpi 4 The Role of the Nervous System in Muscle Atrophy 41 Minal Bhanushali, Robin Conwit, Jeffrey Metter and Luigi Ferrucci 5 Nutrition, Protein Turnover and Muscle Mass 59 Stephane Walrand, Christelle Guillet and Yves Boirie 6 The Complex Relation between Muscle Mass and Muscle Strength 74 Todd M. Manini, David W. Russ and Brian C. Clark 7 Is Sarcopenia a Geriatric Syndrome? 104 Jean–Pierre Michel and Alfonso J. Cruz–Jentoft 8 Adverse Outcomes and Functional Consequences of Sarcopenia 114 David R. Thomas 9 A Lifecourse Approach to Sarcopenia 125 Avan Aihie Sayer 10 Cachexia and Sarcopenia 141 Maurizio Muscaritoli, Simone Lucia and Filippo Rossi Fanelli 11 Sarcopenia and Frailty 154 Cornel C. Sieber 12 Sarcopenia, Osteoporosis and Fractures 168 Tommy Cederholm 13 Sarcopenic Obesity 181 Mauro Zamboni, Andrea P. Rossi and Elena Zoico 14 Imaging of Skeletal Muscle 193 Thomas F. Lang 15 Measurements of Muscle Mass, Equations and Cut–off Points 205 Marjolein Visser and Laura Schaap 16 Measurement of Muscle Strength and Power 226 Michael Drey and Jurgen M. Bauer 17 Measurements of Physical Performance 238 Rolland Yves, Gabor Abellan van Kan and Matteo Cesari 18 Exercise Interventions to Improve Sarcopenia 252 Mark D. Peterson and Jos´e A. Serra–Rexach 19 Nutritional Approaches to Treating Sarcopenia 275 Douglas Paddon–Jones and Luc van Loon 20 The Future of Drug Treatments 296 Francesco Landi, Yves Rolland and Graziano Onder 21 Sarcopenia: Is It Preventable? 324 Maurits Vandewoude and Ivan Bautmans Index 339

Dr. Alfonso J. Cruz Jentoft is a specialist in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. He currently leads the Geriatric Department of the Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and of the Clínica Ruber, both in Madrid, Spain. He is Past President of the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) and is now member of its Academic Board. He has also served as Secretary and Board Member of the Sociedad Española de Geriatría y Gerontología. He represents Spain in the Council of the International Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology (IAGG). Dr. Cruz–Jentoft is associate editor of the journal European Geriatric Medicine , and member of the editorial board of other leading geriatric European journals. He is author of La vida empieza a los cincuenta (Life starts at fifty, Temas de Hoy) and La vejez positiva (Positive ageing, Esfera de los libros), and editor or co–author of many medical textbooks and more than 100 peer–reviewed articles. His present areas of active research include sarcopenia and nutrition in older people, geriatric pharmacotherapy, Alzheimer’s disease and geriatric assessment. Dr. John E. Morley , known internationally as a gerontological researcher, clinician, and educator, became the Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and the Dammert Professor of Gerontology. In addition to extensive personal scientific achievements, Dr. Morley has directed the clinical training programs in both endocrinology and geriatrics and supervised research activities ranging from basic biomedical investigation to epidemiology and health services research. He is the editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences , and recipient of the Ipsen Foundation of Longevity Award in 2001, the American Geriatrics Society′s Lascher/Manning Award for Lifetime Achievement in Geriatrics in 2002, and the Gerontological Society of America′s Freeman Award in 2004. He has developed a number of educational games and has a special interest in continuous quality improvement (CQI).

“This book contains a substantial and recent bibliography, and it will provide stimulating reading for both clinicians and research workers who are seeking ways of enhancing physical function in the elderly.”  ( Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism , 1 October 2012)