Grant: Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data - IMHA Early Career Researcher

Background: Canada's aging population is causing more older adults to have health problems. One big issue is frailty, which happens when the body's systems get weaker, making it harder to deal with stress. Sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass and strength, makes frailty worse and leads to trouble moving. Osteoarthritis is also linked to frailty and sarcopenia, creating a cycle of worsening health. Females are more affected by this, as they have higher rates of both frailty and osteoarthritis. Understanding how these conditions are connected is key to finding better ways to help. Aim: This study will look at how frailty, sarcopenia, and osteoarthritis are connected in older adults. We will also study how factors like exercise, vaccines, medicine, socializing, and diet affect these connections. Proposed Methods: We will use a Frailty Index to measure how frail people are and ask them if they have osteoarthritis. Sarcopenia will be defined by looking at muscle mass and strength. We will track changes over time and see how parts of the AVOID Frailty program, like exercise and diet, affect frailty, and how frailty changes someone's risk of developing sarcopenia or osteoarthritis. Expected Impact: This study will help us understand how frailty and musculoskeletal health are connected, leading to better treatments and ways to prevent problems. By finding things people can change, we can help improve their health and quality of life. This research could also lead to better public health programs and personalized care, reducing the pressure on the healthcare system.