The recent improved sanitary, nutritional, and socioeconomic conditions have led to an increase in life expectancy, making individuals over 65 and over 80 the fastest-growing part of the population.

Unfortunately, the improved lifespan is not free of complications, since it has been associated with an intensification of chronic diseases. This is determined by multiple functional alterations of cell- and organ-related mechanisms that contribute to the functional decline of the individual, and introduce an increased risk to develop further pathologies. This complex condition is called frailty and consists of the loss of physical and psychological abilities, creating a vulnerability for adverse health outcomes in aged individuals.

Frailty is considered a multifactorial condition, that has been suggested to depend on genetic background, properties of musculoskeletal and nervous system, and level of inflammation. The establishment of frailty depends on multiple factors such as the exposition to different psycho-physical activities, nutritional regimens, social milieu, and other variables that concur to define the lifestyle of an individual. Recent evidence suggests that frailty is a modifiable condition that can be improved with affordable adjustments in lifestyle, such as following an exercise protocol or a nutritional regimen that respects the needs of aged people. The exploration of the biological processes underlying frailty together with the reporting of recent advances, could provide with new avenues to prevent, treat, and manage this critical aspect of aging.

The present Research Topic is aimed at delving into the causes of frailty and the strategies adopted to reduce the impact of age. The Topic will address the following interests:

- The impact of lifestyle
- Molecular mechanisms responsible for the modulation of frailty
- Effects of exercise
- Role of nutrition
- Gender dependent characteristics
- Skeletal muscle metabolism
- Oxidative stress
- Strategies to reduce frailty

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Frontiers in Aging

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