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In August 2026, Marco Vincenzo Narici, PhD, together with his colleagues, published a review article entitled “Reframing sarcopenia as a disease of the ageing motor system” in the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity (Reframing sarcopenia as a disease of the ageing motor system – The Lancet Healthy Longevity). Dr Narici is also a scientific adviser at the Institute for Kinesiology Research (IKARUS) of ZRS Koper.
Sarcopenia is now recognised as one of the key factors contributing to reduced physical capacity, functional independence and quality of life in older age. Traditionally, it has been viewed primarily as a consequence of the loss of muscle mass. However, contemporary clinical definitions increasingly emphasise muscle strength and physical performance, as muscle mass alone provides only a partial explanation of why functional capacity declines so markedly with ageing.
The authors therefore propose a new conceptualisation of sarcopenia, arguing that it should no longer be understood exclusively as a disease of skeletal muscle, since ageing affects the entire motor system – from the central nervous system and spinal cord to the peripheral nerves, the neuromuscular junction and the muscle itself.
The article is particularly relevant to the research carried out at the Institute for Kinesiology Research, especially as a framework for its future studies on the effects of ageing, injury and disease, physical inactivity, microgravity and exercise. It highlights a shift from a muscle-centred perspective towards an integrated approach to the motor system.
Reference: Orssatto LBR, Arnold WD, Ferrucci L, Narici MV, Clark BC. Reframing sarcopenia as a disease of the ageing motor system. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.lanhl.2026.100898.
Photo: Marco Vincenzo Narici, PhD, (left) with Dr Boštjan Šimunič, Head of the Institute for Kinesiology Research at ZRS Koper, during the Bed Rest study conducted last year at Izola General Hospital.