Sarcopenia is an age-related progressive muscle degeneration condition characterized by loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and poor physical function. Its prevalence and mortality rates continue to rise with advancing age, significantly impairing patients' quality of life. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia involves multiple pathophysiological processes, including imbalanced protein catabolism, cell death, mitochondrial dysfunction, and various cellular signaling pathways. Therefore, it is crucial to identify potential therapeutic targets and treatments for sarcopenia. As an exercise-induced myokine, irisin has shown great potential in maintaining skeletal muscle health. In this review, we focus on the relationship between irisin and sarcopenia, delving into existing research to elucidate irisin's mechanisms of action in sarcopenia—including its effects on protein catabolism, cell death, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular signaling, and muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. We provide insights into irisin as a therapeutic intervention for sarcopenia and provide essential evidence to support its clinical application in sarcopenia treatment. The Translational Potential of this Article . This review highlights the mechanism of action of irisin in sarcopenia and its potential as a therapeutic candidate for sarcopenia in the future.
Chen et al. (2026) studied this question.