Frailty/Sarcopenia

The overall goal of this project is to develop modular, lower-limb, powered orthoses that fit to user-specific weakened joints and control force/torque in a manner that enhances voluntary motion in broad patient populations. This project aims to establish feasibility of assisting different populations with these modular powered orthoses. The investigators hypothesize that assisting lower-limb musculature with modular powered orthoses will improve 1) lifting/lowering posture in able-bodied subjects and 2) functional outcomes in elderly subjects.

This Phase II clinical study investigates the safety and effectiveness of a new drug, Isomyosamine, in patients with sarcopenia or frailty, conditions associated with aging and muscle weakness. Isomyosamine is a promising oral medication that reduces inflammation by targeting cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, which are linked to these conditions. Previous studies have shown it is well-tolerated and may help improve muscle strength, mobility, and healing after hip fractures. This trial aims to determine its potential benefits in reducing inflammation and improving recovery in elderly patients.

Frailty is a significant risk factor for postoperative complications and functional decline. Preoperative assessment of frailty is therefore recommended in all older adults. However, despite the availability of many frailty tools, few have been tested in the preoperative setting and there is little comparison of their predictive value in identifying patients at risk. The aim of this study is to investigate which of the following instruments for determining frailty has the highest predictive power with regard to the occurrence of postoperative complications: Risk Analysis Index, Clinical Frailty Scale, the Groningen Frailty Indicator, the Edmonton Frail Scale and the LUCAS-FI. The aim of this research project is to identify a suitable frailty instrument for preoperative risk stratification of older patients during the premedication visit.