Abstract. The review presents data on frailty as a biological construct, its identification, and assessment as a marker of pathological aging. Similar mechanisms and vulnerabilities between frailty and depression in old age are examined. Attention is given to the adverse prognostic value that frailty holds for the therapeutic management of chronic somatic and mental illnesses in late life. Some aspects of its conceptualizaтиon and measurement are discussed, with the general conclusion that frailty is not a part of “normal aging” and should be screened and assessed given the serious socio-medical consequences observed in its presence.

Key words: frailty, assessment, late-life depression

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