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Failure to thrive, sacropenia and functional decline in the elderly
1Physiology Laboratory and Sarcopenia Research Program, Jean Mayer United States Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|November 14, 1997
Summary
Common definitions are lacking for failure to thrive and sarcopenia, hindering research into their causes. This review examines current knowledge and proposes areas for future investigation into these syndromes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Clinical Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Failure to thrive (FTT) and sarcopenia are distinct clinical syndromes impacting patient health.
- Currently, no universally accepted definitions exist for either FTT or sarcopenia.
- This definitional ambiguity complicates research and clinical understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of failure to thrive and sarcopenia.
- To highlight the challenges posed by the lack of standardized definitions.
- To suggest potential etiological mechanisms for future research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on failure to thrive and sarcopenia.
- Analysis of current diagnostic criteria and proposed definitions.
- Synthesis of information to identify knowledge gaps and research opportunities.
Main Results:
- Significant variability exists in the definitions and diagnostic criteria used for FTT and sarcopenia.
- The absence of common definitions impedes comparative studies and epidemiological research.
- Potential overlapping and distinct pathophysiological mechanisms require further elucidation.
Conclusions:
- Establishing standardized definitions for failure to thrive and sarcopenia is crucial for advancing research.
- Further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of both conditions is warranted.
- A unified approach to defining and studying these syndromes will improve clinical care and outcomes.