Characterizing sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in patients aged 65 years and over, at risk of mobility disability: a multicenter observational trial (SARA-OBS).

Background: Aging is associated with a progressive change of body composition characterized by muscle mass decline and accumulation of adipose tissue that can lead to sarcopenia and obesity, respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia is poorly known given the different parameters and thresholds in proposed definitions. The combination of obesity (defined as a percentage of body fat mass of > 25% in men and > 35% in women) and sarcopenia (SO) adds complexity to the characterization of this pathology.

Biomarkers of cellular senescence predict risk of mild cognitive impairment: Results from the lifestyle interventions for elders (LIFE) study.

Objectives: Cellular senescence, characterized by a marked and multifactorial senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), is a potential unifying mechanism of aging and chronic disease. Most studies of the SASP have focused on frailty and other functional outcomes. Senescent cells have been detected in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, but few studies have examined associations between plasma SASP markers and cognition.

BIO101 in Sarcopenic Seniors at Risk of Mobility Disability: Results of a Double-Blind Randomised Interventional Phase 2b Trial.

Background: Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle disorder that may lead to mobility disability. No pharmaceutical interventions are currently available, and treatment relies on physical exercise and nutrition. The aim of SARA-INT was to investigate whether BIO101 (20-hydroxyecdysone), an activator of the MAS receptor, is safe and improves muscle function and physical performance of community dwelling older sarcopenic patients.

Patient-reported outcomes in sarcopenia: An ICFSR task force report.

The International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR) Task Force convened in March 2024 to address patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in the field of sarcopenia. PROMs are crucial to enhance healthcare services at both individual and societal levels. PROMs complement objective outcome measures by capturing insights that patients are best suited to judge.

Biomarkers of cellular senescence and major health outcomes in older adults.

The geroscience hypothesis proposes that underlying biological processes, such as the accumulation of senescent cells, have deleterious effects on multiple tissues and increase the risk of many chronic conditions with aging. Senescent cells produce heterogenous biomarkers, also called senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Circulating concentrations of senescence biomarkers may reflect an underlying burden of senescent cells in various tissues.

The Influence of Body Mass Index on Biomarkers of Cellular Senescence in Older Adults.

Obesity accelerates the onset and progression of age-related conditions. In preclinical models, obesity drives cellular senescence, a cell fate that compromises tissue health and function, in part through a robust and diverse secretome. In humans, components of the secretome have been used as senescence biomarkers that are predictive of age-related disease, disability, and mortality.

Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is the accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function commonly, but not exclusively, associated with advancing age. It is observed across many species including humans in whom it can lead to decline in physical function and mobility as well as to increased risk of adverse outcomes including falls, fractures and premature mortality. Although prevalence estimates vary because sarcopenia has been defined in different ways, even using a conservative approach, the prevalence is between 5% and 10% in the general population.

A feasibility randomized controlled trial of a community-level physical activity strategy for older adults with motoric cognitive risk syndrome.

The motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a syndrome characterized by subjective memory complaints and slow walking speeds that can identify older adults at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD). To date, the feasibility of community-based physical activity (PA) programs for improving outcomes in MCR have yet to be examined. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a translational randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing 24-weeks of PA to a healthy aging education (HE) control intervention delivered within the infrastructure of an urban senior center in Greater Boston (clincaltrials.

Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation During Exercise in Older Adults with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a pre-dementia syndrome characterized by subjective memory complaints and gait impairments that may be related to lower prefrontal cortex (PFC) function. Acute bouts of aerobic exercise are shown to improve PFC function, however, the acute effects of exercise on PFC oxygenation have not yet been examined in MCR. This study aims to characterize the PFC oxygenation responses during acute exercise in older adults with MCR.

Predictive value of sarcopenia components for all-cause mortality: findings from population-based cohorts.

Background: Low grip strength and gait speed are associated with mortality. However, investigation of the additional mortality risk explained by these measures, over and above other factors, is limited.

Aim: We examined whether grip strength and gait speed improve discriminative capacity for mortality over and above more readily obtainable clinical risk factors.

Impact of a Whole-Food, High-Soluble Fiber Diet on the Gut-Muscle Axis in Aged Mice.

Previous studies have identified a role for the gut microbiome and its metabolic products, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in the maintenance of muscle mass and physical function (i.e., the gut-muscle axis), but interventions aimed at positively impacting the gut-muscle axis during aging are sparse.

Risk of mortality in older adults with loss of appetite: An analysis of Medicare fee-for-service data.

Objectives: Prior research suggested that loss of appetite (LOA) among adults with Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) insurance in the United States increased the risk of mortality within 1 year; those findings were not adjusted for risk factors and confounders. The objective of this study was to compare the risk of mortality among Medicare FFS beneficiaries with LOA to a control group without LOA while controlling or adjusting for age, comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), and weight loss.

Design: Retrospective and observational analysis of Medicare FFS health insurance claims data from October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021.

Effect of Anamorelin, a Ghrelin Receptor Agonist, on Muscle and Bone in Adults With Osteosarcopenia.

Context: Anamorelin, a ghrelin receptor agonist known to stimulate the pulsatile release of GH from the pituitary, has the potential to improve musculoskeletal health in adults with osteosarcopenia.

Objective: To determine the effect of anamorelin treatment for 1 year on muscle mass and strength and on biochemical markers of bone turnover in adults with osteosarcopenia (OS).

Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, 1-year anamorelin intervention trial.

A Critical Review of Current Worldwide Definitions of Sarcopenia.

With the increasing number of elderly individuals worldwide, the prevalence of age-related loss of muscle mass, referred to as sarcopenia, is expected to increase. Sarcopenia is a relatively new recognized syndrome, which is thought to affect 13% individuals worldwide, and the significant efforts made by different groups have advanced our understanding of the diagnosis, treatment, and natural history of this condition. However, the challenge is now to standardize its measurement and diagnosis to facilitate research in this area and a greater understanding of this condition and its management between clinicians and researchers.

Looking at frailty and intrinsic capacity through a geroscience lens: the ICFSR & Geroscience Task Force.

On 22 March 2023, the Geroscience Translational Research & International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR) Task Force met in Toulouse, France to discuss avenues to foster the development of intrinsic capacity and frailty clinical trials under a geroscience perspective. A synthesis of these discussions and a set of recommendations are presented in this Meeting Report.

Calorie restriction reduces biomarkers of cellular senescence in humans.

Calorie restriction (CR) with adequate nutrient intake is a potential geroprotective intervention. To advance this concept in humans, we tested the hypothesis that moderate CR in healthy young-to-middle-aged individuals would reduce circulating biomarkers of cellular senescence, a fundamental mechanism of aging and aging-related conditions. Using plasma specimens from the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE™) phase 2 study, we found that CR significantly reduced the concentrations of several senescence biomarkers at 12 and 24 months compared to an ad libitum diet.

Structured Moderate Exercise and Biomarkers of Kidney Health in Sedentary Older Adults: The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Randomized Clinical Trial.

Rationale & Objective: In the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) trial, a structured exercise intervention slowed kidney function decline in sedentary older adults. Biomarkers of kidney health could distinguish potential mechanisms for this beneficial effect.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Biomarkers of cellular senescence and risk of death in humans.

A robust and heterogenous secretory phenotype is a core feature of most senescent cells. In addition to mediators of age-related pathology, components of the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) have been studied as biomarkers of senescent cell burden and, in turn, biological age. Therefore, we hypothesized that circulating concentrations of candidate senescence biomarkers, including chemokines, cytokines, matrix remodeling proteins, and growth factors, could predict mortality in older adults.

Synergistic Strategies to Accelerate the Development of Function-Promoting Therapies: Lessons From Operation Warp Speed and Oncology Drug Development.

Background: Functional limitations and physical disabilities associated with aging and chronic disease are major concerns for human societies and expeditious development of function-promoting therapies is a public health priority.

Methods: Expert panel discussion.

Results: The remarkable success of Operation Warp Speed for the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 therapeutics, and of oncology drug development programs over the past decade have taught us that complex public health problems such as the development of function-promoting therapies will require collaboration among many stakeholders, including academic investigators, the National Institutes of Health, professional societies, patients and patient advocacy organizations, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and the U.