Sarcopenia parameters in active older adults - an eight-year longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology
• Muscle Biology

Background:

• Sarcopenia, a skeletal muscle syndrome in older adults, is influenced by sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity.
• Adequate physical activity can mitigate sarcopenia development and severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in sarcopenia parameters in active older adults over an eight-year period.
• To assess if active older adults maintain better sarcopenia test performance compared to the general population.

Main Methods:

• An observational longitudinal cohort study involving 52 active older adults (mean age 68.4 years).
• Assessment of muscle strength (handgrip), skeletal muscle mass index, and gait speed at baseline and after eight years, using EWGSOP2 criteria.
• Self-reported physical activity and sedentary behavior were recorded using the General Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• No sarcopenia was detected at baseline; however, 7 participants showed signs after eight years.
• Significant declines were observed in muscle strength (-10.2%), muscle mass index (-5.4%), and gait speed (-28.6%) over the eight years (p < .001 for all).
• Physical activity decreased (-25.0%, p = .030) and sedentary behavior increased (-48.5%, p < .001).

Conclusions:

• Despite age-related declines in sarcopenia parameters, active older adults demonstrated better performance on motor tests than reported in similar studies.
• The prevalence of sarcopenia observed in this cohort aligns with existing literature.