Frailty syndrome in older adults: Research advances and management strategies

Frailty represents a critical clinical syndrome characterized by diminished physiological reserve and heightened vulnerability to stressors, serving as a robust predictor of disability and mortality in the aging population. This review comprehensively synthesizes current evidence regarding the biological mechanisms, evolving assessment tools, and evidence-based management strategies for frailty. Complex multisystem dysregulation is identified as the primary driver of this syndrome, with a particular focus on metabolic-immune imbalances and muscle-mitochondrial axis dysfunction. While traditional clinical assessment models remain diagnostic staples, multi-omics profiling and digital biomarkers, including those derived from wearable sensors, are emerging as transformative tools for earlier and more precise risk stratification. Regarding clinical translation, multimodal interventions that integrate resistance exercise, nutritional optimization, and polypharmacy management constitute the cornerstone of current care. However, the future of geriatric medicine necessitates a paradigm shift beyond descriptive diagnosis. Ultimately, mechanism-driven precision interventions and the integration of digital health technologies are proposed to not merely manage frailty but to quantify and enhance systemic resilience for healthy longevity.