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Sarcopenia Research Paper

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As we get older, cell turnover decreases and leads to the decrease of the normal functioning of the organs. A prevalent condition in otherwise healthy old adults is sarcopenia results from the natural decrease in skeletal muscle mass, which directly affects the independence of old adult to conduct daily activities such as walking, cooking and exercising. Therefore, Sarcopenia is one of the reasons for malnutrition in the elderly since it interferes with their ability to obtain and prepare their meal. Sarcopenia should receive attention and thus more research on its treatment should be conducted because, without it, otherwise healthy old adult adults could enjoy their daily activities away from costly nursing homes and hospitals. This literature review shows that …show more content…

As individuals become older, they become less hungry. With age comes changes in body composition. The muscle mass lost with sarcopenia is compensated with accumulation of fat, so that the accumulation of fat increases as the accumulation of protein decreases. This fat-protein relationship means that old adults have less requirements for energy, reflected in their lack of appetite when compared to a younger population.
An increase in fat reserves and a decrease in fat reserves means that old adults have less stability and balance and less strength in their muscles, since this properties are given by proteins in the muscles. This makes it less likely that old adults will be independent enough to get food and prepare their meals. Furthermore, the increase in fat makes them heavier and less mobile and makes them more prone to obesity.
Malnutrition in the elderly is becoming more prevalent in the United States. A demographic profile from 2006 for malnutrition in old adults shows that 5-10% come from communities and that 60% come from hospitals. Since the elderly population is expected to increase, malnutrition becomes a major issue in public

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