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Diabetes, sarcopenia, and frailty.
1Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, St. Louis VA Medical Center, 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive, 11E, St. Louis, MO 63125, USA. morley@slu.edu
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|August 2, 2008
Summary
Frailty, a pre-disability state, is clinically defined by sarcopenia and executive dysfunction. Managing diabetes and frailty precursors can slow aging and prevent disability.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Clinical Medicine
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Frailty is a recognized clinical condition preceding disability.
- Sarcopenia (muscle loss) and diminished executive function are key contributors to frailty.
- External stressors can trigger the transition from frailty to disability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define frailty clinically.
- To identify major contributing factors to frailty.
- To explore the relationship between diabetes mellitus and frailty development.
Main Methods:
- Clinical definition of frailty.
- Identification of major contributing factors (sarcopenia, executive function).
- Analysis of frailty development in individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Main Results:
- Frailty can be clinically defined.
- Sarcopenia and decline in executive function are primary drivers of frailty.
- Individuals with diabetes mellitus are prone to developing frailty earlier.
- Stressors accelerate the progression to disability in frail individuals.
Conclusions:
- Frailty is a distinct clinical entity.
- Targeting sarcopenia and executive function may mitigate frailty.
- Early intervention in diabetes mellitus and frailty precursors can decelerate aging.
- Clinical management of diabetes and frailty precursors holds potential for slowing the aging process.
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