Temporal Muscle Thickness: A Practical Approximation for Assessing Muscle Mass in Older Adults

Objective: Ongoing research has evidenced the importance of muscle measurement in predicting adverse outcomes. Measurement of other muscles is promising in current research. This study aimed to determine the correlation between temporal muscle thickness (TMT) and appendicular lean soft tissue (ALSTI) in older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings and Participants: Single cohort gathered in Gothenburg, Sweden, consisting of individuals born in 1944 (n = 1203). Methods: We studied 657 magnetic resonance images to measure TMT. Comparisons of TMT with dual -energy X-ray absorptiometry ALSTI (kg/m 2 ) as a reference standard were performed. Finally, TMT associations with cognition evaluated using the Mini -Mental State Examination (MMSE), gait speed, and handgrip strength were explored with linear regressions. Results: The correlation between TMT and ALSTI was weak yet signi ficant (r = 0.277, P < .001). TMT exhibited signi ficant associations with MMSE (estimate = 0.168, P = .002), gait speed (estimate =1.795, P < .001), and ALSTI (estimate = 0.508, P < .001). These associations varied when analyzed by sex. In women, TMT was signi ficantly associated with gait speed (estimate = 1.857, P = .005) and MMSE (estimate = 0.223, P = .003). In men, TMT scores were signi ficantly correlated with ALSTI scores (estimate = 0.571, P < .001). Conclusion and Implications: Repurposing head images can be an accessible alternative to detect muscle mass and ultimately detect sarcopenia. These studies have the potential to trigger interventions or further evaluation to improve the muscle and overall health of individuals. However, additional research is warranted before translating these findings into clinical practice. (c) 2024 AMDA - The Society for Post -Acute and Long -Term Care Medicine.