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Frailty, sarcopenia, and hormones

John E Morley1, Theodore K Malmstrom

  • 1Division of Geriatric Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63104, USA. morley@slu.edu

Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America
|May 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Frailty is a clinical syndrome linked to age-related hormonal changes causing sarcopenia. Treatments include exercise, supplements, and reducing medications, while some drugs show uncertain efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and clinical medicine, focusing on frailty syndrome.

Background:

  • Frailty is a definable clinical syndrome with a simple screening test.
  • Age-related hormonal changes significantly contribute to frailty by causing sarcopenia (reduced muscle mass and strength).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding and treatment strategies for frailty, particularly sarcopenia.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on frailty, sarcopenia, and related therapeutic agents.
  • Discussion of pharmacological interventions (Selective Androgen Receptor Molecules, ghrelin agonists, Activin Type IIB soluble receptors, Follistatin-like 3 mimetics) and non-pharmacological approaches.

Main Results:

  • Selective Androgen Receptor Molecules and ghrelin agonists show promise for treating sarcopenia.
  • The efficacy and safety of Activin Type IIB soluble receptors and Follistatin-like 3 mimetics are less certain due to potential side effects.

Conclusions:

  • Key treatments for frailty include resistance and aerobic exercise, vitamin D and protein supplementation, and polypharmacy reduction.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the role of certain novel therapeutic agents in frailty management.

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