Current and emerging biomarkers of frailty in the elderly

Clin Interv Aging. 2019 Feb 19:14:389-398. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S168687. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The term "frailty" is used to describe a subset of older adults who appear weaker and more vulnerable than their age-matched counterparts, despite having similar comorbidities, demography, sex, and age. The diagnosis of frailty is usually clinical and based on specific criteria, which are sometimes inconsistent. Therefore, there is an increasing need to identify and validate robust biomarkers for this condition. In this review, we summarize current evidence on the validity and practicality of the most commonly used biomarkers for frailty, while also comparing them with new upcoming strategies to identify this condition.

Keywords: COP cells; biomarkers; disability; elderly; frailty; mesenchymal stem cells.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Frailty / blood*
  • Frailty / complications
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Hormones / blood*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Lamin Type A / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hormones
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lamin Type A
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • C-Reactive Protein