Final answer:
The 5 criteria including unintentional weight loss, general exhaustion, weakness, low physical activity, and slow walking speed are known as the frailty criteria established by Johns Hopkins, which help identify frailty in older adults.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 5 criteria you are referring to are known as the frailty criteria which were established by Johns Hopkins. These criteria are used to identify older adults with increased vulnerability due to age-related declines in reserve and function across multiple physiological systems, increasing the risk of adverse outcomes. The criteria include unintentional weight loss, general exhaustion, weakness (tested by hand grips), low physical activity (decreased function), and slow walking speed (measured by the ability to walk 15 feet). These are indicative of frailty in individuals, which may result in an inability to cope with minor stressors leading to potential crises or even death.
Frailty is often a consequence of cumulative declines across multiple organ systems, and although it is more common in old age, it's not an inevitable part of aging. Some individuals can remain fit and active throughout their lives, and proper exercise, nutrition, and an active lifestyle can minimize physical declines during middle and late adulthood.