Healthy Aging, Sarcopenia, and Geriatrics Research Portfolio

Unlock Healthy Aging: Prevent and Manage Sarcopenia

Welcome to ILSI U.S. and Canada's resource for understanding and addressing sarcopenia, a common but often overlooked health concern. As we age, the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength can significantly impact mobility, independence, and overall quality of life. This condition, known as sarcopenia, affects seniors worldwide, yet many are unaware of its risk factors or the importance of prevention. ILSI's initiative aims to raise awareness of sarcopenia and provide evidence-based strategies to support healthy aging.

ILSI U.S. and Canada initiative to raise awareness of sarcopenia for healthy aging

Overview Goals & Impact Proposed Projects Working with ILSI Contact Us Reference

Overview

Our Purpose

The mission of the Healthy Aging, Geriatrics, and Sarcopenia Research Portfolio is to promote risk assessments for – and awareness and prevention of – sarcopenia among medical providers, patients, and older adults. Since its classification as a disease in the 10th Edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in 2016, sarcopenia has remained underdiagnosed and under documented in medical records.¹

ILSI's initiative aims to change this narrative by bridging the gap between academia, the medical community, and the patient population. Ultimately, we strive to improve public awareness of sarcopenia and to reduce the overall prevalence of this condition.

Leadership Committee

Roger Fielding, PhD (Chair) – Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, USA
Johanna Dwyer, DSc, RD – Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts Medicine, and Schools of Medicine and Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University, USA
Rosaly Correa de Araujo, MD, MSc, PhD – Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (DGCG), National Institute on Aging (NIA), USA
Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD – National Institute on Aging (NIA), USA
Stuart Phillips, PhD, FACSM, FCAHS – McMaster University, Department of Kinesiology, Canada
Aimee Henrikson, MPH - Senior Medical Affairs Manager at Nestlé, USA

Goals & Impact

The overall goal of this research portfolio is to positively impact public health by extending and enhancing the health span of older adults through effective mitigation strategies for sarcopenia.

To accomplish this, ILSI plans to target four outcomes:

Enhance education among healthcare providers and patients regarding sarcopenia and its mitigation strategies.
Promote wider adoption of the sarcopenia ICD-10 code, resulting in the yielding of more accurate data to be used in further research on sarcopenia.
Facilitate greater utilization of prescribed treatments for sarcopenia management, such as diet, supplementation, exercise, pharmacologic interventions, etc.
Reduce the prevalence of sarcopenia, thereby extending health span and mitigating sarcopenia-related complications.

Proposed Projects


Practitioner Awareness of Sarcopenia
About the Project:	The goal of ILSI's project is to curate and distribute comprehensive resources, including educational materials, guidelines and treatment toolkits, ICD-code education, as well as evidence-based insights, for physicians and practitioners. This project will target providers who have little knowledge about sarcopenia, such as primary care providers, family medicine practitioners, other health professionals, and their respective associations and societies.
Deliverables and Outcomes:	A communications campaign targeting medical professionals to improve their awareness of sarcopenia.
Status:	Preparing to launch in November 2024
	Contact us to get involved!


General Public Awareness of Sarcopenia
About the Project:	The goal of ILSI's project is to disseminate educational materials, mitigation strategies, and treatment guidelines on sarcopenia to the broader public to increase awareness of sarcopenia and how to prevent it.
Deliverables and Outcomes:	A communications campaign targeting older adults and the general public to improve awareness of sarcopenia.
Status:	Preparing to launch in November 2024
	Contact us to get involved!

Working with ILSI

ILSI helps fuel innovation by providing companies, academic institutions, NGOs, and governmental agencies with a wide view on issues related to health and wellness and environmental stewardship.

By working with ILSI, you can:

Access a multidisciplinary network of leading experts and scientists from academia, government, NGOs, risk assessment bodies, and other industry representatives. ILSI's collaborative model provides our partners with access to a diverse range of researchers and experts across multiple sectors. This approach not only brings credibility and objectivity to ILSI-led research, but it also helps mitigate the risk of bias.
Collaborate on projects and research in a cost-effective way by pooling resources. In fact, ILSI's structure is designed to spark greater scientific innovation and productivity. This helps foster an environment of professional excellence and cutting-edge discovery.
Participate in important research projects without paying a membership fee. That's right—ILSI U.S. and Canada does not require a membership fee! It's now easier to engage in significant public-private partnerships. Our goal is to increase participation in ILSI's successful initiatives, amplifying the impact of your contributions.
Gain visibility and credibility. ILSI actively disseminates research, findings, and outcomes through various channels, including scientific conferences, presentations, publications, social media, and more. This visibility can grow your professional network.
Contribute to trusted and impactful science. By collaborating with us, you can integrate your expertise with that of other professionals. At the same time, you can stay at the forefront of the latest scientific developments. This not only enriches your career and organization, it can also enhance connections with the broader scientific community.

Reference

Have an idea you want to share with our team?

Use the form below to send us an idea, request more information, or let us know that you would like to collaborate with ILSI!

Subscribe to ILSI Emails on Sarcopenia and Healthy Aging

About ILSI

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a global, nonprofit federation committed to improving public and planetary health by convening international experts from academia, the public sector, the private sector and other NGOs to advance evidence-based scientific research.

ILSI operates within a framework of the highest principles of scientific integrity. Our trusted professionals and volunteers around the world work synergistically and transparently across sectors and disciplines.