TürkçeLearn about Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia is defined as muscle mass loss and loss of strength as a result of aging.
Sarcopenia is defined as muscle mass loss and loss of strength as a result of aging.
It is the severe loss of muscle mass that occurs with aging. Along with this loss, muscle strength is also reduced. It affects balance, gait, and ability to perform daily tasks.
Sarcopenia is an important risk factor for falls, fractures, hospitalization, loss of mobility, physical independence and premature death. Sarcopenia dramatically increases falls. People who are injured by falling in this way have difficulty in continuing their social lives as before. Sarcopenia is also associated with metabolic problems such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
In 2000, $18 billion was spent on health problems caused by sarcopenia in the United States. Maintaining physical function and independent living through exercise not only improves the quality of life of individuals, but also saves billions of dollars spent in nations' health budgets.
Demographic research suggests that at the beginning of the 19th century no country in the world had a life expectancy longer than 40 years. The population of many of the developed countries in the world have life expectancies of over 80 years. In the past, we did not need to take precautions against sarcopenia. We could not live that long, and the number of elderly people in the total population was not that high. The increase in the elderly population is becoming one of the common problems of the whole world, especially in developed countries.
Life expectancy is increasing globally. Unfortunately, however, the number of years of "needy" life is increasing. Regular exercise and a healthy diet should be one of the biggest projects ahead to reduce the number of years spent with illness and physical dependence on someone.