# Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of your skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function. Several things drive it: anabolic resistance (muscle responds less to protein), neuromuscular changes, chronic inflammation, and inactivity. Under the EWGSOP2 (2019) consensus, low muscle strength is the first thing to check, by grip strength or a chair-stand test. That marks 'probable' sarcopenia. You then confirm it with low muscle quantity or quality, by DXA, BIA, or CT/MRI. Poor physical performance defines how severe it is. Since October 2016, sarcopenia has had its own ICD-10-CM code (M62.84), which recognizes it as an independent clinical condition.

## Sources

- Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al.. (2019). Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age and Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169
- Fielding RA, Vellas B, Evans WJ, Bhasin S, Morley JE, et al. (International Working Group on Sarcopenia). (2011). Sarcopenia: an undiagnosed condition in older adults. Current consensus definition: prevalence, etiology, and consequences. International Working Group on Sarcopenia. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2011.01.003

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/sarcopenia · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_