What is sarcopenia?
Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength due to age.
As we age, certain changes occur in the body - one of the results of this process is sarcopenia. At a certain age, the body can no longer produce enough proteins for muscle growth. For this reason, muscle cells decrease in size.
The main symptom of the disease is muscle weakness. Other symptoms are:
- You lose your ability to exercise;
- Decreased energy;
- Difficulty performing daily activities;
- Slow walking;
- Difficulty climbing stairs;
- You lose balance and often fall;
- Muscle size decreases.
Sarcopenia occurs against the background of increasing age. People over 30 lose muscle mass and strength over time - the process reaches its peak between the ages of 65 and 80. According to rough statistics, we lose 8% of our muscle mass every decade.
The following risk factors play a role in the development of sarcopenia with age:
- You are not physically active;
- Obesity;
- A history of chronic diseases;
- Insulin resistance;
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- Decreased hormone levels;
- You do not consume an adequate amount of protein;
- The body has lost the ability to convert protein into energy and add strength to the muscle;
- The number of nerve cells that send/call the muscles to start moving is reduced.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23167-sarcopenia
