Frailty and the older man

Frailty is a wasting syndrome common in individuals of advanced age that is associated with considerable risk for morbidity and mortality. Epidemiolog ic studies show evidence of a lower prevalence of frailty in men as compare d with women. Earlier mortality in men from all causes may in part influenc e this observation. As described in this article, age-related gender differ ences in skeletal muscle reserve, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and immune system changes may also differentially influence the development of frailty .