[1063] Sarcopenia, Mobility Disorders, and Falls
Our research group has developed a research line focused on falls, mobility disorders, frailty and sarcopenia in older adults. For instance, we have demonstrated in various large randomized controlled trials, including a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation titled "Sarcopenia and Exercise in Older Adults," the beneficial effects of exercise on physical and cognitive performances, and falls in older adults, along with the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects (e.g., in terms of brain plasticity).
Moreover, the position of Visiting Scientist held by Prof. Andrea Trombetti in Prof. Roger Fielding’s team—a group internationally recognized in the fields of sarcopenia and nutrition—allows us to actively collaborate on numerous large-scale research projects. For example, we were in charge of the fragility data analysis of the LIFE study, the largest physical exercise trial with the longest follow-up conducted in the USA (n=1,635 elderly subjects followed for 2.5 years), which notably led to a publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
We are also developing approaches to improve the quality of care, particularly for hospitalized elderly patients who are malnourished and at risk of falling. Our group has been awarded two HUG quality awards, one in 2008 and another in 2017, which is an unprecedented achievement to date at HUG. These two pragmatic research projects, which have been published, have a strong grounding in care practices at the Department Of Readaptation and Geriatrics.
We are actively continuing our investment in our clearly identifiable research lines on an international level, in collaboration with our extensive network of clinician and researcher experts (local, national, and international) that we have created, as well as conducting numerous clinical studies in parallel.