Say you getpneumonia; a resilient person might recover quickly at home with antibiotics.
But someone with frailty has a higher chance of ending up at the hospital and developing an infection.
It can set you up for other not-too-great outcomes tooarecent studyof nearly 30,000 people suggests frailty may increasedementia risk.
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Theres uplifting news, though.
Pre-frailty signs can be early red flags that youre starting to lose strength and energy.
But theyre critical early clues that youre becoming a little more vulnerable.
Dr. Florez recalls one pre-frail patient who started complaining of weakness after having difficulty opening jars.
That requiresgrip strength, he says, which is one possible sign of frailty you might notice early on.
Or they might get surprisinglyfatigued walking up stairs.
Any dip in energy, unexplained weight loss, and trouble exercising are all tell-your-doctor signs too.
Staying active in any way can lower frailty riskbut strength training is the real MVP.
These guidelines exist becauseno surprise hereexercisebenefits both your mind and bodyin endless ways.
After that, we start declining, and it happens to everyonesuper athletes and regular people alike.
And while youre at it, dont sleep on exercises like yoga and tai chi.
The third piece thats really important to frailty prevention isbalance exercises, Dr. Allison says.
Frailty can make you more prone to falls, he explains, which can then lead to fractures.
Packing more protein might make a difference too.
However, one specific nutrient may be worth focusing on more than others: protein.
Adequate protein intake in ones diet [can] maintain muscle mass, Dr. Fried explains.
As forhow much you need?
But FWIW, to really prevent frailty, you may need a little more than the standard recommendation.
Researchers in that 2020 review noted that higher-than-average protein intake may be best to protect against the condition.
Dont assume frailty is just a future-you problem.
Frailty symptoms might look a little different when youre younger.
Its easier if someone is pre-frail and harder if someone is frailbut its not a one-sided progression.
