The term Sarcopenia is relatively new, having been coined in 1988 by Dr. Irwin Rosenberg to describe the gradual loss of muscle mass due to aging. By giving it a name, he was successful in encouraging research on causes and treatments. Even so, research into Sarcopenia is still in it's infancy so the exact causes have yet to be pin-pointed. Some have hypothesized that Sarcopenia is caused by a variety of factors, all working together, including lower levels of hormones, poor nutritional status, changes within the cells due to free radical damage, and lack of exercise.

As we age, levels of testosterone and growth hormone decline. This can make it more difficult to maintain and build muscle mass. Additionally, the elderly often don't eat enough protein for muscle maintenance and most don't exercise either. All of these factors have been implicated in Sarcopenia.