Counteracting the Trajectory of Frailty and Sarcopenia in Older Adults

Food preservation technologies and medical advances in the past 50 years have contributed to safeguarding the health and prolonging the lives of individuals worldwide. However, living longer does not automatically equate with being healthy, living independently, making judicious decisions, or setting goals and achieving them. Most adults will experience 1 or more health problems with lingering consequences. It is the impact of the disease or injury that determines overall well-being and quality of life. Frailty, sarcopenia and malnutrition have been identified as common geriatric syndromes associated with functional decline, disability, hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality. The evidence demonstrates that these geriatric syndromes could be prevented or the course of the syndrome altered through prevention strategies. Since these syndromes often present concurrently, it is prudent for healthcare professionals to recognize the interrelationships and clinical implications of these syndromes to employ tactics to promote desirable outcomes.