Reframing Frailty as a Medical Condition, Not a Side-Effect of Aging

Monash University researchers conducted the first global study on frailty published in JAMA Network Open , concluding that it is its own medical condition, and deserves more focus by the medical and scientific community, according to Earth.com . This research is the first to offer a measurable estimate in terms of the chances of getting frail. Women are at greater risk of developing frailty compared to men, and 4.3 percent of adults older than 60 will become frail every year. Over 20 percent of the world's population will be older than 60 by 2050, meaning that the number of people expected to become frail will drastically increase. A person is diagnosed with frailty if they fulfill specific criteria, yet there is no "gold standard" definition for medical professionals to use. A major reason why frailty is not just a part of the aging process is that anyone can become frail in their lifetime. The researchers suggest physical therapy could help slow the progression of frailty or even reverse it. They also recommend medical professionals screen older individuals for signs of fragility.