sarcopenia

(noun)

Age-related loss of skeletal muscle, resulting in frailty. Often found together with osteoporosis, a loss of bone that is similarly associated with the aging process.

Related Terms

Examples of sarcopenia in the following topics:

  • Muscular Atrophy and Hypertrophy

    • Atrophy over time due to aging is known as sarcopenia.
    • Though not completely clear, it is suspected that the cause of sarcopenia is a combination of the decline of satellite cells to regenerate cells of skeletal muscle fibers, as well as a decreased sensitivity or availability of hormone cues, including growth factors, that stimulate maintenance muscles through regeneration of muscle fiber cells from satellite cells.
    • Loss of muscle not due to atrophy or sarcopenia is indicative of diseases that result in structural defects of muscles (muscular dystrophy) or autoimmune responses that degrade muscle structure (myopathies).