What term is used to describe the feebleness of the body or mind caused by aging?

The term that describes the feebleness of the body or mind caused by aging is frailty. Frailty is a clinical syndrome characterized by a decreased reserve and resistance to stressors, resulting from cumulative declines across multiple physiological systems. It often manifests as weakness, weight loss, exhaustion, and reduced physical activity, making older adults more vulnerable to adverse health outcomes, such as falls, disability, hospitalization, and even mortality.

In contrast, while senility is often used informally to refer to the deterioration of mental faculties commonly associated with aging, it does not encompass the broader physical aspects that frailty includes. Depression, although it can be common among the elderly, describes a mental health condition rather than a direct impact of aging itself. Dementia refers to a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily life, which, while associated with aging, is a distinct cognitive decline rather than a general term for feebleness. Therefore, frailty is the most appropriate term for the overall feebleness resulting from the aging process.