Mitochondrial Alterations and Signaling in Aging, Frailty, and Sarcopenia: An Integrated View

Aging, a highly complex and multifactorial process, can be framed as a physiological mismatch resulting from decreasing resilience and increasing levels of damage generation and accumulation. Intrinsic drivers of human aging have been discovered and attributed a role in the pathogenesis of frailty and sarcopenia. Mitochondrial function and signaling are in the spotlight as relevant mechanisms of aging. Declines in functional health are a frequent trait of old age and a major factor limiting independence in late life. Measures of physical performance are also metrics of aging as they can predict incident disability and other health-related negative events. The integration of measures of mitochondrial biology and other hallmarks of aging allows a comprehensive appraisal of the events underlying the development and progression of frailty and sarcopenia.