ArticleJournal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle2021
A comparison of sarcopenia prevalence between former Tokyo 1964 Olympic athletes and general community-dwelling older adults.
Article in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Load-velocity profiles in machine-based exercises: comparing trained college students with recreationally active and sedentary middle-aged and older adults.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Early-life endurance sports lowers frailty and falls in former male athletes.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Anticholinergic burden quantified using the Japanese risk scale as a predictor of frailty and sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults: A 9-year Kashiwa cohort study.Geriatrics & gerontology international · 2025Article
- Mitochondrial dysfunction in age-related sarcopenia: mechanistic insights, diagnostic advances, and therapeutic prospects.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2025Review
- Adolescent and Current Exercise Habits in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Associations with Body Composition, Physical Activity, and Pulmonary Function.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Article
- Article
- The Impact of Training on the Loss of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Aging Masters Endurance Athletes.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Review
- Association between the recognition of muscle mass and exercise habits or eating behaviors in female college students.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- A comparison of sarcopenia prevalence between former Tokyo 1964 Olympic athletes and general community-dwelling older adults.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study aimed to determine how increased muscle mass and athletic performance in adolescence contribute to the prevention of sarcopenia in old age, accounting for the type of sport and the continuation of exercise habits. We compared the prevalence of sarcopenia, its components (low appendicular skeletal muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low physical function), and musculoskeletal pain using data from two cohorts: former athletes who competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and general community-dwelling older adults living in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.
methodsWe analysed the data from 101 former Olympic athletes (mean age ± SD: 75.0 ± 4.4 years; 26% female) and 1529 general community-dwelling older adults (74.1 ± 5.5 years; 49% women). We assessed sarcopenia (defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia revised in 2019) and musculoskeletal pain and considered potential confounding factors such as demographic characteristics, for example, sex and exercise habits.
resultsThe prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly lower in former Olympic athletes than general older adults (odds ratios [OR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.94), especially with regard to superior appendicular skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. This effect was more pronounced in individuals who continued their exercise and in athletes whose sporting discipline was classified as having a high exercise intensity. Conversely, low physical function (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.16-6.07) and musculoskeletal pain (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.24-3.97) were more prevalent in former Olympic athletes and in athletes who competed in sports with physical contact.
conclusionsWe observed a lower prevalence of sarcopenia and superior appendicular skeletal muscle mass and strength in the former Olympic athletes, especially among those that continued their exercise habits and those in sports with high exercise intensity. Conversely, low physical function and higher musculoskeletal pain scores were more prevalent in former Olympic athletes, especially among athletes who competed in sports with physical contact. Our results warrant further promotion of exercise in adolescence and beyond as well as providing safety education, which is required to prevent the development of sarcopenia and musculoskeletal pain in old age.
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