Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia: Understanding and Reversing Age-Related Muscle Loss
Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function associated with aging. While some degree of muscle decline is expected with age, sarcopenia reflects a pathologic process that accelerates physical disability, increases the risk of falls, and contributes to frailty and loss of independence. It often begins subtly in the fourth decade of life and progresses more rapidly after age 60, particularly in sedentary individuals or those with chronic illness.
Muscle Fibrosis and Aging: Why Strength Fades and What Can Be Done
As we age, many people assume that weakness and muscle loss are inevitable. While some decline in strength is expected, much of what we attribute to “aging” is actually due to specific biological processes, particularly muscle fibrosis. Unlike muscle atrophy alone, fibrosis involves a shift in tissue architecture, replacing healthy muscle fibers with stiff, disorganized collagen. This change reduces mobility, strength, and responsiveness to exercise.