The Lancet has announced a new Commission aimed at reorienting frailty in clinical practice, public health, and policy. Davide Liborio Vetrano is one of two experts from Karolinska Institutet, who are involved in this important initiative.
Frailty affects 12-24 percent of people aged 65 and older, with higher prevalence among women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is characterised by vulnerability due to declines in physiological reserves, making individuals susceptible to adverse outcomes such as falls and loss of independence.
The newly formed Lancet Commission on Frailty will focus on four priority areas: recognising frailty as an actionable target, improving early detection, optimising management, and integrating frailty into public health policies.
"Frailty is a complex condition that requires a multifaceted approach. Our goal is to develop strategies that can be adapted to diverse populations, including those with limited access to care," says Davide Liborio Vetrano , Principal Researcher at the at the Aging Research Center (ARC) , Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society . He emphasises the importance of early detection and intervention.
"By identifying frailty early, we can implement preventive measures that increase healthspan for older adults."
Juulia Jylhävä , Principal Researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics , will be also part of the Commission and will contribute with her expertise in the area. Her research focuses on the aging-related frailty syndrome and epigenetics and genetics of ageing.
This initiative is a significant step towards improving the health and well-being of the ageing population.
