Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, has emerged as one of the defining clinical challenges of an aging world. Once regarded as an inevitable feature of advancing age, it is now recognized as a treatable muscle disease that intersects with falls, frailty, hospitalization, postoperative complications, chronic disease, and mortality. Bringing together international contributions from clinicians, researchers, and engineers, this book offers a focused and timely overview of where the field stands today and where it is heading.

The chapters trace the conceptual journey of sarcopenia, from its original formulation to the most recent diagnostic consensuses, and examine how the redefinition of muscle strength as the primary parameter for case-finding is reshaping clinical practice. Particular attention is given to the multifaceted relationship between muscle health and other systems, with detailed analyses of sarcopenia in chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis, in spinal pathologies and surgical outcomes, and in community-dwelling older adults at increased risk of falls. Complementing these clinical perspectives, the book also explores the next generation of assessment tools, including wearable sensors, instrumented balance platforms, and machine-learning approaches, that are extending the reach of diagnosis beyond the specialized laboratory.

A consistent thread throughout the book is the urgent need for earlier detection, structured intervention pathways, and equitable access to care across diverse populations and resource settings. Original data from under-represented regions add real-world depth to the evidence base, while practical recommendations for prevention, diagnosis, and management are anchored in current international guidelines.

This book will be of interest to geriatricians, internists, surgeons, nephrologists, rehabilitation specialists, nutritionists, exercise scientists, public-health professionals, and postgraduate students seeking an integrated, contemporary, and clinically oriented update on sarcopenia.