Toby, age 85, is extremely infirm and displays wasted muscle mass and strength. In recent months, Toby has experienced weight loss, severe mobility problems, and cognitive difficulties. Explain Toby's condition. What contributes to it?

What will be an ideal response?

Toby is frail. Frailty involves weakened functioning of diverse organs and body systems, yielding symptoms that profoundly interfere with everyday competence—unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, muscle weakness, slow walking speed, and low physical activity. Frailty leaves older people highly vulnerable in the face of infection, extremely hot or cold weather, or injury. Although primary (biological) aging contributes to frailty, researchers agree that secondary aging plays a larger role, through genetic disorders, unhealthy lifestyle, and chronic disease. Secondary aging involves declines due to hereditary defects and negative environmental influences, such as poor diet, lack of exercise, disease, substance abuse, environmental pollution, and psychological stress. Serious conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, unintentional injuries, and dementia are major sources of frailty in late adulthood.