Current perspectives on sarcopenia: diagnosis and therapeutic approaches

Korea is experiencing rapid population aging and entered a super-aged society in December 2024. This demographic shift underscores the growing prevalence of sarcopenia, a progressive skeletal muscle disorder related to aging, characterized by reduced muscle mass, strength, and function, which significantly affects the morbidity and quality of life of older adults. Although sarcopenia is defined as a medical condition (ICD-10-CM M62.84; KCD-8 M62.5), no effective pharmacological treatment exists, emphasizing the importance of non-pharmacological prevention and management strategies. Definitions of sarcopenia have been proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP), the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), and the Korean Working Group on Sarcopenia (KWGS). The current interventions focus on exercise and nutritional supplementation. Protein intake above the generally recommended dietary allowance, along with resistance exercise, is strongly recommended for the prevention and management of sarcopenia. Asian intervention studies have highlighted the benefits of multimodal programs that combine exercise, nutrition, and geriatric care. However, standardized protocols remain inconclusive. Variations in diagnostic criteria and ethnic differences further complicate the management of sarcopenia. Future large-scale studies are needed to establish effective preventive measures and therapeutic strategies for sarcopenia with a focus on tailored interventions and standardized protocols for Asians.