Abstract

Sarcopenia and diabetes are two conditions that reflect ongoing changes in global health trends: aging and obesity. Sarcopenia affects approximately 10-40% of the global population and type II diabetes affects around 415 million individuals (6.28% globally), with obesity contributing to a majority of the cases. Currently, approximately 9.3% of the population (727 million individuals) is aged 65 years or older; this number is predicted to reach 16% of the global population (around 1.5 billion individuals) in 2050. Many developed countries are undergoing demographic population pyramid rearrangements whereby an increasingly aging population must be supported by a shrinking youth cohort. Sarcopenia involves progressive loss of muscle mass as a natural, physiological result of the aging process and is proving a pressing concern for the modern-day, aging population, as it may contribute to increased risk of falls, accidents, hospitalization, decreased range of motion and mobility, increased comorbidities, and overall decreased quality of life, particularly in elderly populations. Type II diabetes occurs when normal insulin function and regulation is impaired. It often features symptoms of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, polydipsia, polyuria, and fatigue and is among one of the most alarming metabolic conditions for the modern world. Both sarcopenia and diabetes involve complex metabolic disturbances. Several studies have established a reciprocal relationship between sarcopenia and diabetes, where the presence of one condition influences or exacerbates the other. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have analyzed if a difference in the strength of the relationship exists among different ethnic groups. The main objective of this project is to conduct a review and meta-analysis to further explore the relationship between sarcopenia and diabetes, to determine whether a statistically significant difference in the strength of the relationship exists among different ethnic groups, and to suggest future research directions and perspectives based on given results.

Thesis Completion

2022

Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Borgon, Robert

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Medicine

Department

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences

Degree Program

Biomedical Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

5-1-2022

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