As populations across the globe continue to age rapidly, maintaining muscle mass and function has emerged as a critical public health concern. Age-related muscle decline, or sarcopenia, contributes significantly to disability, morbidity, and healthcare costs. Addressing sarcopenia effectively requires strategies that are safe, scalable, and evidence-based.

One such strategy is increasing dietary protein intake beyond the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 0.8 g/kg/day. Currently, the RDA may not reflect optimal intakes needed to preserve muscle mass and function with age. Research summarized presents compelling evidence from nitrogen balance studies, stable isotope tracer techniques, and observational cohorts suggesting that older adults require ≥1.2 g/kg/day of high-quality protein to support muscle outcomes.

Furthermore, aging muscle is less sensitive to anabolic stimuli like dietary protein—a phenomenon known as "anabolic resistance." This resistance can be overcome by:

• Increasing per-meal protein doses (≥0.4 g/kg/meal),
• Optimizing leucine content, and
• Combining protein with physical activity and loading exercise.

This session will examine the scientific rationale, clinical evidence, and practical implications of protein intake recommendations above the RDA for older adults. The goal is to equip clinicians, researchers, and policymakers with actionable insights on the role of protein in healthy aging.