Sarcopenia em idosos: um estudo de revisão

With aging, there are several physiological changes throughout the body. In the skeletal musculature, there is a change in the pattern from fast to slow fibers, leading to a loss of muscle mass, strength and quality, which causes the individual to become weaker and slower. This loss of muscle mass and strength generates in the elderly a decrease in mobility, increased functional disability and dependence on activities, and may even lead to more serious consequences such as falls and fractures. We call this process sarcopenia. The mechanisms responsible for the development of sarcopenia are not yet fully known, but it is known that factors such as decreased steroid hormone levels, decreased protein intake, increased proinflammatory cytokine levels and physical inactivity are contributing factors. The present study is a review of the literature, which used scientific studies to investigate the impact of sarcopenia on the functionality of individuals > 65 years old