What is Sarcopenia anyway? Sarcopenia is also known as age-related muscle loss. An estimated 25% of 60-year-olds have sarcopenia and almost 2/3 of those 80 years and older have lost serious amounts of muscle mass, threatening a healthy lifespan and contributing to decreasing independence and quality of life. Most people think that our skeletal muscles only generate force and movement. Surprisingly, they also play a major role in our metabolism, circulation, and cognition.