Approaches to the diagnosis and prevention of frailty

Abstract

An individual who is living with frailty has impairments in homeostasis across several body systems and is more vulnerable to stressors that may ultimately predispose them to negative health-related outcomes, disability and increased healthcare use. Approximately a quarter of individuals aged > 85 years are living with frailty and as such the identification of those who are frail is a public health priority. Given that the syndrome of frailty is defined by progressive and gradual loss of physiological reserves there is much scope to attempt to modify the trajectory of the frailty syndrome via physical activity and nutritional interventions. In this review we give an up to date account on the identification of frailty in clinical practice and offer insights into physical activity and nutritional strategies that may be beneficial to modify or reverse the frailty syndrome.