Sarcopenia has attracted increasing scientific attention because of its implications for ageing, physical function, and health
outcomes. This study aimed to map the global research landscape of sarcopenia by examining publication trends, leading
contributors, influential research sources, thematic evolution, and emerging research directions using bibliometric and thematic
network analyses. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications indexed in the Scopus database between 1994 and
2024. Documents containing the term “sarcopenia” in their titles were retrieved and analysed using Bibliometrix in R. The
analysis examined scientific productivity, author and journal contributions, geographical distribution, keyword patterns, thematic
evolution, and emerging research themes. A total of 7,837 sarcopenia-related publications were identified. Annual scientific output
increased markedly after 2010, reaching its highest level in 2024. Landi F was the most productive author, while the Journal of
Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published the largest number of documents. China was the leading contributing country in terms
of publication output. Frequently occurring author keywords included “sarcopenia,” “fatality,” and “muscle mass.” Thematic
evolution across four time intervals identified research topics related to cystatin C, creatinine, older adults, diabetes mellitus, and
stroke. Additional thematic analyses highlighted Mendelian randomisation, ageing, prognosis, machine learning, myostatin,
SARC-F, and biomarkers, particularly cystatin C, as prominent areas of investigation. Global sarcopenia research has expanded
substantially, accompanied by increasing thematic diversity and growing attention to molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and
predictive approaches. The prominence of cystatin C, myostatin, Mendelian randomisation, machine learning, and SARC-F
suggests an expanding research focus beyond disease definition and diagnosis toward risk assessment and mechanistic
investigation. These findings identify potential priorities for future research, including biomarker validation, external validation of
prediction models, and clinical evaluation of mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. Greater international collaboration and
integration of bibliometric findings with clinical evidence may further support the translation of emerging research directions into
sarcopenia management.
