In recent years the population has been experiencing an increase in life expectancy. With these years gained later in life, problems such as sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia arise. Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength, acts directly on individual health and well-being, eventually leading to limitations and dependence on caregivers. Pre-sarcopenia is an earlier preceding step, defined as low muscle mass alone. This review aims to describe and critically analyze the methods that can be used for screening and early diagnosis of sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia, selecting the most cost-effective in clinical practice to detect, prevent and monitor affected individuals.
