What is the term for loss of muscle strength associated with aging?

The term for the loss of muscle strength associated with aging is dynapenia. This condition represents a significant health concern in the elderly population, as it relates specifically to the decline in muscle strength, which can lead to reduced physical performance, increased risk of falls, and decreased quality of life. Dynapenia is distinct from sarcopenia, which refers to the loss of muscle mass, although the two conditions often co-occur.

Understanding dynapenia is crucial for gerontological nutrition specialists because it highlights the importance of maintaining muscle strength through appropriate nutrition and physical activity tailored to older adults. Strategies to combat dynapenia may include adequate protein intake and resistance training, which can help preserve or enhance muscle function.

While anorexia of aging and starvation-related malnutrition characterize different issues within the aging population, they do not specifically denote the loss of muscle strength that is the hallmark of dynapenia. Anorexia of aging refers to the reduced appetite and nutrition intake in older adults, and starvation-related malnutrition pertains to a state of malnutrition due to insufficient nutrient consumption. All of these conditions are relevant to gerontological nutrition but are not synonymous with the specific phenomenon of dynapenia.