SARCOPENIA AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN THE ELDERLY: A LITERATURE REVIEW TAILORING THE MUSCLE-BRAIN AXIS

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594112423018

• Palavras-chave: Sarcopenia, Cognitive Decline, Muscle-Brain Axis.

• Keywords: Sarcopenia, Cognitive Decline, Muscle-Brain Axis.

• Abstract:

  Objective: Investigate the possible relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive decline in the elderly. Methods: Narrative bibliographic review in the PubMed database using the search strategy: (sarcopenia) AND (cognitive) AND (elderly). From this search, 476 articles were found, subsequently submitted to the selection criteria, selecting a total of 21 articles to compose the present study. Discussion: It is clear that patients with sarcopenia have a doubled risk of cognitive impairment. This correlation is independent of ethnicity and shares several pathophysiological mechanisms, such as hypoperfusion in brain areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex and the left insula. Risk factors for this relationship include advanced age, obesity, low education level, smoking, low albumin levels, vitamin D deficiency, and malnutrition. Furthermore, the role of oxidative stress, inflammatory factors such as interleukin-6, and the balance between muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein levels in the etiology of sarcopenia is highlighted. The importance of preventing cognitive impairment through increasing muscle mass, nutritional therapy and physical training to delay cognitive impairment in patients with sarcopenia is emphasized. Final considerations: Research shows that sarcopenia and cognitive decline in the elderly are related, sharing pathophysiological mechanisms such as cerebral hypoperfusion, which affects important areas such as the amygdala and hippocampus. However, the need for more clinical research is highlighted to deeply explore the mechanisms involved in this relationship.