A survey of the relationship between sarcopenia and sleep: Sarcopenia and sleep

Duygu Tutan; Jan  Ulfberg; Nilay  Bektaş Akpınar; Ülkem  Şen Uzeli; Semin  Turhan; Tuba Kayır

doi:10.5281/zenodo.16488534

Authors

Duygu Tutan Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Çorum, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0440-1146
Jan Ulfberg Circad Health, Nora, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6877-4390
Nilay Bektaş Akpınar Ankara Medipol University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4142-6457
Ülkem Şen Uzeli Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Çorum, Turkey https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6479-7858
Semin Turhan Erol Olçok Training and Research Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Çorum, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1014-1179
Tuba Kayır Mimar Sinan Family Health Center, Department of Family Medicine, Çorum, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5190-549X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16488534

Keywords:

Sarcopenia, sleep, sleep duration, sleep quality

Abstract

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and function, represents a significant global health concern, not only among older adults but also in younger populations due to modern lifestyle changes. Emerging evidence highlights sleep as a crucial lifestyle factor influencing sarcopenia. Both insufficient sleep duration (fewer than 6 hours) and excessive sleep (exceeding 8 hours) have been linked to an elevated risk of sarcopenia. The underlying mechanisms encompass hormonal dysregulation, chronic inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, all of which contribute to progressive muscle deterioration. Additionally, prolonged sleep has been linked to reductions in muscle mass, poor physical performance, and exacerbation of sarcopenia severity. This review provides a comprehensive survey of the relationship between sarcopenia and sleep, assessing both duration and quality. It explores the intricate physiological pathways linking sleep disturbances to muscle degeneration, emphasizing the U-shaped association between sleep duration and sarcopenia risk. Furthermore, we discuss the potential for optimizing sleep habits as a cost-effective, nonpharmacological strategy to prevent and manage sarcopenia in contemporary society. Addressing this relationship as a growing public health challenge, we advocate for global initiatives and future research to unravel the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted prevention strategies.

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