Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and strength that happens with aging, affecting about 10% of adults over 60. It raises the risk of falls, fractures, and loss of independence. Current treatment focuses on resistance exercise and adequate protein intake, but no drugs are approved specifically for sarcopenia.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) that aim to build muscle without testosterone's side effects, myostatin inhibitors that block a protein limiting muscle growth, and ghrelin mimetics that may increase appetite and muscle mass. Researchers are also studying combination approaches pairing exercise with drugs, and biomarkers to catch sarcopenia earlier.
Myostatin inhibitors
Myostatin is a protein that puts a brake on muscle growth. Drugs that block it have shown muscle gains in animal studies, and several are now in human trials for sarcopenia and related conditions.
SARMs
Selective androgen receptor modulators aim to mimic testosterone's muscle-building effects while avoiding prostate and heart risks. Several are in mid-stage trials, though regulatory questions remain about long-term safety.
Bimagrumab
This myostatin antibody showed significant muscle mass increases in earlier trials. Studies are testing whether those gains translate to better strength and function in older adults with sarcopenia.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on age (usually 65 or older), measured muscle mass or strength below certain thresholds, and ability to participate in exercise testing.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug trials — Testing medications that aim to build or preserve muscle mass, often combined with exercise programs.
- Exercise trials — Comparing different resistance training approaches to find what works best for older adults losing muscle.
- Nutrition trials — Testing protein supplements, amino acids, or vitamin D to see if they slow muscle loss when combined with exercise.
- Combination trials — Pairing an investigational drug with structured exercise to see if the combination works better than either alone.
- Biomarker studies — Following people over time to identify blood tests or imaging markers that predict who will develop severe sarcopenia.
Recently added Sarcopenia trials
Strength and Dual-Task on Sarcopenia in People With Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson´s disease and parkinsonian syndromes are associated with progressive motor and non-motor impairments that may compromise functional independence and quality of life. Sarcopenia, characterized by reduced muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance, is highly prevalent in these populations and may contribute to an increased risk of falls, frailty, and disability. This prospective, parallel-group, three-arm randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of three levels of physiotherapy intervention on sarcopenia-related parameters and physical function in adults with Parkinson´s disease or parkinsonian syndromes. The Education Group will receive standarized nutritional education and general physical exercise recommendations through structed educational materials, without supervised exercise training. The Progressive Resistance Training (PRT) Group will receive standarized nutritional education and participate in supervised progressive resistance trained combined with cognitive dual-task exercises. The PRT plus Instability Group will receive the same nutritional education, progressive resistance training, and cognitive dual-task training, with additional instability and postural control components. Participants in the two supervised exercise groups will complete two physiotherapy sessions per week for 12 weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (T0), immediately after the 12-week intervention (T1), and four weeks after completion of the intervention (T2). Outcomes will include clinical and functional status, muscle strength, body composition and other sarcopenia-related measures, physical performance, nutritional status, neurocognitive status, number of falls, and Parkinson's disease-related clinical characteristics. The study will evaluate the effects of supervised progressive resistance training compared with an educational intervention and will explore whether adding instability and postural control demands to progressive resistance training provides additional effects on physical function, sarcopenia-related outcomes, and fall-related functional risk in people with Parkinson's disease and parkinsonian syndromes.
Resistance vs Aerobic Prehabilitation Before Colorectal Cancer Surgery
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which type of exercise before surgery best reduces complications after colorectal surgery in adults with colorectal cancer or precancerous lesions. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does resistance (strength) training, aerobic (endurance) training, or a combination of both before surgery lower the rate and severity of complications in the first 30 days after surgery, compared with no exercise program? * Which factors influence how well patients follow a prehabilitation program, and does following the program affect surgical outcomes? Researchers will compare three exercise groups with a control group that receives standard care without an exercise program. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to one of four groups: resistance training, aerobic training, combined training, or no exercise program (control) * Do the assigned home exercise program for 4 to 6 weeks before surgery, with weekly physiotherapy check-ups in person or by phone * Receive nutritional counseling, breathing exercises, and psychological support if needed, regardless of group * Keep a daily exercise diary and record their pulse daily * Undergo physical fitness tests (walking test, sit-to-stand test, handgrip strength) and quality-of-life questionnaires before surgery and 8 weeks after surgery
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