Sarcopenia in the clinic of nervous diseases

M.I. Severina^1,2, N.V. Isaeva^1,2

¹Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk

²Krasnoyarsk Regional Clinical Hospital, Krasnoyarsk

Sarcopenia is a multifactorial disorder characterized by a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass, which consequently leads to reductions in muscle strength and functional performance. This loss of muscle function is associated with decreased quality of life, increased risk of disability, and elevated mortality rates in affected populations. Etiologically, sarcopenia is classified as either primary (age-related) or secondary, the latter of which results from contributory factors that precipitate alterations in the musculoskeletal system. Key etiological factors implicated in the development of secondary sarcopenia include physical inactivity, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic diseases, particularly diseases of the nervous system. For disease screening, the SARC-F questionnaire is widely employed, assessing variables such as strength, the need for assistance with ambulation, ability to rise from a chair or bed, stair climbing capacity, and frequency of falls. Through this tool, predictors of sarcopenia are identified; when present, further confirmatory diagnostic procedures are indicated. These include instrumental methods that provide objective assessments of muscle tissue status, as well as functional tests to evaluate physical capacity. Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning the development of sarcopenia have been studied, including those associated with neurological disorders such as acute cerebrovascular accidents and neurodegenerative diseases. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on investigating the pathogenesis of sarcopenia within neuromuscular disorders to facilitate the selection of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Aim: to analyze and systematize current data on the methods of sarcopenia diagnosis, as well as the main mechanisms of its development in various pathologies of the nervous system.

Keywords: sarcopenia, nervous diseases, neuromuscular diseases.

For citation: Severina M.I., Isaeva N.V. Sarcopenia in the clinic of nervous diseases. RMJ. 2025;4:13–17. DOI: 10.32364/2225-2282-2025-4-3