Aging is the result of different functional changes leading to a substantial reduction of all human capabilities. A variety of anatomical and physiological changes occur with advancing age. These changes are more evident in the elderly population. There are various methods to measure muscle and bone mass loss, but the dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is considered one of the most efficient. The elderly population (65 years and older) has been increasing throughout the years. Loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) and loss bone mass (osteopenia or osteoporosis) with advancing age, when untreated, represent a major public health problem for the elderly population and may result in loss of independence in later life. Untreated age-related sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis increase the risk for falls and fractures, making older individuals more susceptible to the development of mobility limitations or severe disabilities that ultimately affect their capacity for independence. In this review, we will discuss the muscle and bone mass loss in the elderly population and advances in diagnosis and treatment.

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome currently defined as pathological loss of muscle mass and function. Sarcopenia is not only a major contributor to loss of physical function in older adults but is also associated with increased risk of morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. As a complex and multifactorial syndrome, sarcopenia has been associated with numerous degenerative changes during the aging process, but there is building evidence for significant contributions to the development of sarcopenia from neurodegenerative changes in the peripheral nervous system. A variety of interventions have been investigated for the treatment of sarcopenia, but current management is primarily focused on nutrition and therapeutic exercise interventions. Great strides have been made to improve screening procedures and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia, but continued optimization of diagnostic and screening strategies is needed to better identify individuals with sarcopenia or at risk of developing sarcopenia. Understanding and addressing the major drivers of sarcopenia pathogenesis will help develop therapeutics that can reduce the impact of sarcopenia on affected individuals and society.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between obesity, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and dynapenia in subjects from 65 to 90 yr old in a geriatric center. A population of 45 subjects between 65 and 90 yr was used in this investigation. Body composition was measured through a bioelectrical impedance instrument using data from the NHANES III study of elderly men and women (>60 yr) to identify sarcopenia and the following cutoff points to identify dynapenia (men, <26 kg; women, <16 kg) with manual dynamometer. The statistic used consisted of chi-square for the analysis of two categorical variables. Student's t-test was used for the analysis of one categorical variable and one continuous variable and the descriptive analysis that included frequencies, proportions, mean, and SD. The relationship between sex with obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity showed a significant relationship, with greater significance in obesity with P = 0.003. In women, the highest percentage was found in the results of dynapenia (56%) and obesity (44%), whereas in men, the highest results were found in dynapenia (50%), sarcopenia (50%), and sarcopenic obesity (55%). Dynapenia is found on a larger scale in both sexes compared with obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity.