Search

Background. A number of studies have shown strong graded positive relationships between size at birth, grip strength, and estimates of muscle mass in older people. However no studies to date have included direct measures of muscle size. Methods. We studied 313 men and 318 women born in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom between 1931 and 1939 who were still resident there and had historical records of growth in early life. Information on lifestyle was collected, and participants underwent peripheral quantitative computed tomography to directly measure forearm and calf muscle size. Results. Birth weight was positively related to forearm muscle area in the men (r = 0.24, p < .0001) and women (r = 0.17, p = .003). There were similar but weaker associations between birth weight and calf muscle area in the men (r = 0.13, p = .03) and in the women (1 = 0.17, p = .004). These relationships were all attenuated by adjustment for adult size. Conclusion. We present first evidence that directly measured muscle size in older men and women is associated with size at birth. This may reflect tracking of muscle size and is important because it suggests that benefit may be gained from taking a life course approach both to understanding the etiology of sarcopenia and to developing effective interventions. Key Words: Sarcopenia--Muscle--Aging--Development.

Background. There is growing evidence that the prenatal environment has long-term effects on adult grip strength, but little is known about the effects of the postnatal environment. We tested whether prepubertal growth, pubertal growth, or the development of motor and cognitive capabilities was associated with midlife muscle strength independently of other determinants of grip strength. Methods. Handgrip strength and body size were measured in a representative British sample of 1406 men and 1444 women 53 years old with prospective childhood data. Normal regression models were used to examine the effects of birth weight, postnatal height and weight gain before 7 years and between 7 and 15 years, motor milestones and cognitive ability on grip strength at age 53, taking account of lifetime social class, current physical activity, and health status. Results. Birth weight and prepubertal height gain were associated with midlife grip strength, independently of later weight and height gain and other determinants. Pubertal growth was also independently associated with midlife grip strength; for men weight gain during puberty was beneficial, whereas for women it was height gain. Those participants with earlier infant motor development had better midlife grip strength, which was partly confounded by the growth trajectory. Conclusions. This study showed that components of prenatal, prepubertal, and pubertal growth have long-term effects on midlife grip strength. To the extent that these associations are modifiable, interventions in childhood that help to build muscle mass and strength, such as increased physical exercise, may have long-term beneficial effects on adult muscle strength and may help to prevent sarcopenia, disability, and frailty in later life.

Background, Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with aging. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that men and women who grew less well in early life have lower muscle strength. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between birth weight, infant growth, and the development of sarcopenia. Methods. We studied 730 men and 673 women, of known birth weight and weight at 1 year, who were born in Hertfordshire, U.K., between 1931 and 1939. Participants completed a health questionnaire, and we measured their height, weight, and grip strength. Standard deviation scores for birth weight, and for infant growth conditional on birth weight, were analyzed in relation to grip strength before and after adjustment for adult size. Results. Grip strength was most strongly associated with birth weight in men (r = 0.19, p < .001) and women (r = 0.16, p < .001). These relationships remained significant after adjustment for adult height and weight. In contrast, the associations with infant growth were weakened after allowing for adult size. Adjustment for age, current social class, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol did not affect these results. Conclusions. Birth weight is associated with sarcopenia in men and women, independently of adult height and weight. The influence of infant growth on long-term muscle strength appears to be mediated through adult size. Sarcopenia may have its origins in early life, and identifying influences operating across the whole life course may yield considerable advances in developing effective interventions.

Introduction There were major changes in population structures and disease patterns in the last century in economically more developed countries (the so-called demographic and epidemiological transitions). Other countries are currently [...], Objective To estimate the number of people worldwide requiring daily assistance from another person in carrying out health, domestic or personal tasks. Methods Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study were used to calculate the prevalence of severe levels of disability, and consequently, to estimate dependency. Population projections were used to forecast changes over the next 50 years. Findings The greatest burden of dependency currently falls in sub-Saharan Africa, where the "dependency ratio" (ratio of dependent people to the population of working age) is about 10%, compared with 7-8% elsewhere. Large increases in prevalence are predicted in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America of up to 5-fold or 6-fold in some cases. These increases will occur in the context of generally increasing populations, and dependency ratios will increase modest y to about 10%. The dependency ratio will increase more in China (14%) and India (12%] than in other areas with large prevalence increases. Established market economies, especially Europe and Japan, will experience modest increases in the prevalence of dependency (30%), and in the dependency ratio (up to 10%). Former Socialist economies of Europe will nave static or declining numbers of dependent people, but will have large increases in the dependency ratio (up to 13%). Conclusion Many countries will be greatly affected by the increasing number of dependent people and will need to identify the human and financial resources to support them. Much improved collection of data on disability and on the needs of caregivers is required. The prevention of disability and provision of support for caregivers needs greater priority. Keywords Dependency (Psychology); Population dynamics; Aging; Chronic disease; Disabled persons; Health services needs and demand; Activities of daily living; Cost of illness; Forecasting (source: MeSH, NLM). Mots cles Dependance (Psychologie), Dynamique population; Vieillissement; Maladie chronique; Handicape; Besoins et demande services sante; Activite quotidienne; Cout maladie; Prevision (source: MeSH, INSERM). Palabras clave Dependencia (Psicologia); Dinamica de poblacion; Envejecimiento; Enfermedad cronica; Evaluacion de la incapacidad; Necesidades y demanda de servicios de salud; Actividades cotidianas; Costo de la enfermedad; Prediccion (fuente: DeCS, BIREME).

Background: Much of our understanding of the age-related progression of systolic blood pressure (SBP) comes from crosssectional data, which do not directly capture within-individual change. We estimated life course trajectories of SBP using longitudinal data from seven population-based cohorts and one predominantly white collar occupational cohort, each from the United Kingdom and with data covering different but overlapping age periods. Methods and Findings: Data are from 30,372 individuals and comprise 102,580 SBP observations spanning from age 7 to 80+y. Multilevel models were fitted to each cohort. Four life course phases were evident in both sexes: a rapid increase in SBP coinciding with peak adolescent growth, a more gentle increase in early adulthood, a midlife acceleration beginning in the fourth decade, and a period of deceleration in late adulthood where increases in SBP slowed and SBP eventually declined. These phases were still present, although at lower levels, after adjusting for increases in body mass index though adulthood. The deceleration and decline in old age was less evident after excluding individuals who had taken antihypertensive medication. Compared to the population-based cohorts, the occupational cohort had a lower mean SBP, a shallower annual increase in midlife, and a later midlife acceleration. The maximum sex difference was found at age 26 (+8.2 mm Hg higher in men, 95% CI: 6.7, 9.8);women then experienced steeper rises and caught up by the seventh decade. Conclusions: Our investigation shows a general pattern of SBP progression from childhood in the UK, and suggests possible differences in this pattern during adulthood between a general population and an occupational population. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary., Introduction Systolic blood pressure (SBP) is an important indicator of cardiovascular function as it has a strong, positive, and continuous relationship with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality [1]. In prospective [...]

Introduction 'We have a winding sheet in our mother's womb that grows with us from our conception and we come into the world wound up in that winding sheet for [...]