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Advances in Sarcopenia Research: Clinical Approaches to Muscle Health and Aging

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Orthopedics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 854

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alejandro Álvarez-Bustos

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Guest Editor
Biomedical Research Center Network for Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES), Institute of Health Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Interests: exercise; physical activity; oxidative stress; inflammation; aging; muscle; cardiovascular system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Helio José Coelho-Júnior

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Guest Editor
Institute of Internal and Geriatric Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Campus di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: exercise; sarcopenia; muscle health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sarcopenia, an age-related condition characterized by the progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is emerging as a major public health concern due to its profound impact on mobility, independence, and overall quality of life in older adults. Recent advances in clinical research are reshaping our understanding of this complex disorder, providing novel diagnostic tools, targeted interventions, and promising therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue explores state-of-the-art clinical approaches to sarcopenia, including the effects of different exercise training variables (e.g., type, frequency, and intensity), nutritional optimization strategies, and emerging pharmacological therapies designed to preserve muscle health and mitigate functional decline.

Additionally, we highlight breakthroughs in early detection methods, from advanced imaging techniques and circulating biomarkers to newly proposed diagnostic criteria aimed at improving the monitoring and management of sarcopenia in aging populations.

As the global population ages, addressing sarcopenia is essential for extending healthspan and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. We invite contributions from researchers and clinicians at the forefront of this field to share insights that will shape future preventive and therapeutic strategies. We look forward to advancing scientific discourse and fostering innovative solutions to improve muscle health and aging outcomes.

Dr. Alejandro Álvarez-Bustos
Dr. Helio José Coelho-Júnior
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sarcopenia
  • functional decline
  • physical performance
  • muscle strength
  • muscle assessment
  • exercise interventions
  • nutri-tional strategies
  • adverse outcomes

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 685 KB  
Article
Bridging Muscle and Bone Health: Rectus Femoris Ultrasound Parameters Predict Osteoporosis and Identify Low Muscle Mass in Romanian Postmenopausal Women
by Miruna M. Soare, Andrea I. Gasparik, Horatiu V. Popoviciu and Ionela M. Pascanu
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(18), 6531; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14186531 - 17 Sep 2025
Viewed by 218
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is characterized by a decline in muscle mass and function. Its association with osteoporosis—referred to as osteosarcopenia—is linked to increased risks of falls, fractures, frailty, and mortality. Therefore, there is a growing need for accurate and accessible tools to assess [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is characterized by a decline in muscle mass and function. Its association with osteoporosis—referred to as osteosarcopenia—is linked to increased risks of falls, fractures, frailty, and mortality. Therefore, there is a growing need for accurate and accessible tools to assess muscle mass. Ultrasonography has emerged as a promising modality in recent years. The aim of our study was to compare rectus femoris ultrasound parameters in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis to healthy controls and to evaluate its diagnostic performance against a reference method. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted including 88 postmenopausal women with a mean age of 65.7 ± 7.5 years. Functional status was evaluated using handgrip strength and gait speed. Rectus femoris ultrasonography was performed, measuring muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA), pennation angle (PA), and echo intensity (EI). Body composition was analyzed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was estimated using a validated predictive equation. All participants had undergone dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry within the previous year, and FRAX scores were calculated. Results: Women with osteoporosis had significantly lower muscle thickness compared to controls after adjusting for age and BMI. Rectus femoris MT and CSA were significantly correlated with predicted ASM (r = 0.428, p < 0.01; r = 0.462, p < 0.01). The area under the curve (AUC) for MT in identifying low muscle mass was 0.732 (95% CI 0.601 to 0.862, p = 0.001) at a cut-off value of 1.38 cm. CSA had an AUC of 0.789 (95% CI 0.678 to 0.901, p < 0.001) at a cut-off value of 4.48 cm2. CSA, MT, and PA were significant independent predictors of osteoporosis regardless of bone mineral density but not of FRAX parameters. Conclusions: Rectus femoris ultrasonography is a potentially reliable and rapid method for assessing muscle mass. Rectus femoris ultrasound parameters may serve as predictors of osteoporosis, independent of bone mineral density. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sarcopenia Research: Clinical Approaches to Muscle Health and Aging)
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Review

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18 pages, 661 KB  
Review
Alterations in the Myokine Concentrations in Relation to Sarcopenia and Sleep Disturbances: A Narrative Review
by Michalina Knapik, Jakub Kuna, Grzegorz Chmielewski, Łukasz Jaśkiewicz and Magdalena Krajewska-Włodarczyk
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(18), 6527; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14186527 - 17 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: In this study, our aim is to summarise the available data on the correlation between sarcopenia and sleep disturbances as a consequence of changes in the myokine concentrations. Methods: Our research was conducted by searching through PubMed, Mendeley and Google [...] Read more.
Objectives: In this study, our aim is to summarise the available data on the correlation between sarcopenia and sleep disturbances as a consequence of changes in the myokine concentrations. Methods: Our research was conducted by searching through PubMed, Mendeley and Google Scholar. In our analysis, 63 studies are included from the years 2011 to 2025. Among these studies, there are clinical trials, cross-sectional studies, reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Discussion: There is vast evidence confirming that sleep disturbances are more common among sarcopenic patients. On the other hand, sarcopenia is frequently observed among people with worse quality of sleep. It is also well documented that sarcopenia leads to changes in the myokine serum concentrations, and similar changes are observed among people suffering from sleep disturbances. Sarcopenic patients have lower levels of irisin, BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), meteorin and IL-15 (interleukin 15) and higher concentrations of FGF-21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) and interleukins 1β, 6 and 10. Lower levels of irisin, BDNF and meteorin, and higher levels of FGF-21 and interleukins 6 and 10, lead to sleep disturbances, like insomnia, reduction of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep time and lower slow-wave activity during the NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep phase. These changes are also observed in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). More severe OSA is correlated with lower levels of irisin and meteorin and higher levels of FGF-21 and interleukins 6 and 8. Conclusions: Taking into account the similarities in the myokine concentration changes in sarcopenia and in sleep disturbances, it may be concluded that alterations in the myokine levels induced by sarcopenia provoke sleep disturbances. However, it is necessary to further investigate these correlations to understand them better. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sarcopenia Research: Clinical Approaches to Muscle Health and Aging)
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