Jessica L. Lee and Yong Li
Frailty is an age-related syndrome that has been well-described in the last ten years. It can be characterized by diminished strength, endurance, and reduced physiologic function. With multiple causes and contributors, frailty is highly correlated with functional decline and chronic diseases. Currently, there are no standardized tests or biomarkers that can be used to identify frail patients, though there have been a number of assessments used in research such as the Fried Frailty Phenotype or the Rockwood Frailty Index. Identification of biomarkers for frailty is a major consideration for future studies of this syndrome.