Cognitive impairment, dementia and sarcopenia in geriatric patients - is there a relationship?

Currently, demographic aging of the population continues, and the frequency of various age-associated pathologies is increasing. Sarcopenia and cognitive impairment are often found in patients of older age groups, leading to the development of frailty, decreased quality of life, disability and premature death. There is an association between sarcopenia, frailty and cognitive impairment. Cognitive and physical frailty are interrelated: cognitive problems and dementia are more common in people with frailty, and people with cognitive impairment are more likely to become frail. Both frailty and cognitive decline share common pathogenesis mechanisms. The role of mediators of muscle origin (myokines) in the occurrence of cross-talk between muscles and brain is known. Sufficient physical activity plays an important role in maintaining not only skeletal muscles, but also cognitive functions. On the contrary, physical inactivity is one of the most important risk factors for sarcopenia, frailty and dementia. However, the relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive decline and the underlying mechanisms remain to be addressed. This is the focus of this literature review.