REASONING ABOUT FRAILTY IN NEUROLOGY: NEUROBIOLOGICAL CORRELATES AND CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

To date, the frailty syndrome has surprisingly attracted limited attention in the field of neurology andneuroscience. Nevertheless, several concepts closely related to frailty, such as vulnerability, susceptibility, andhomeostatic reserves, have been increasingly investigated and documented at level of neuronal cells, brainnetworks, and functions. Similarly, several aspects commonly assessed in the neurological practice, includingcognitive functioning and emotional/affective status, clearly appear to be major determinants of the individual’svulnerability and resiliency to stressors. Therefore, they should be carefully considered in the clinical approach tofrail subjects. Moreover, dysfunctions of these domains, if timely detected, may be suitable to be targeted byinterventions providing beneficial effects to the overall health status of the individual. In the present article, wediscuss the neurobiological processes potentially contributing to frailty. Moreover, we reason about the clinicalmanifestations allowing the prompt and easy recognition of frail persons in the neurological practice.