Muscle is a guardian of the bones and a bedrock for healthy aging. Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass, strength and function and can occur as early as 30 years of age and with conditions of disuse and malnutrition. It is associated with physical disability, poor quality of life, increased morbidity, and mortality and yet remains a missing diagnosis. The pathophysiology of sarcopenia is complex and a better understanding of risk factors and root causes such as oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction is emerging. Diet is a critical component in muscle health and sarcopenia prevention. This session will review the latest research on sarcopenia and provide an integrated roadmap of muscle health assessment and ‘nutritional strength training’ interventions including myoprotective foods, nutrients and nutraceuticals along with exercise and lifestyle recommendations to stem the rising tide of this immense public health problem.
Session Learning Objectives:
1.) Describe risk factors and root causes of sarcopenia.
2.) Apply a multimodal approach to muscle health assessment including physical performance tests and laboratory markers.
3.) Evaluate myoprotective foods and nutraceuticals to support muscle health.
4.) Understand an integrated healthcare approach to optimize muscle integrity and prevent sarcopenia.