Search

Background: We investigated prospectively among community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older whether a larger kyphosis angle is associated with poorer physical performance (balance, muscle strength, or both), and whether this association is unidirectional.Methods: Male and female participants performed a multicomponent physical performance test with subscores for gait, muscle strength, and balance at baseline and after 2 years. Hand grip strength was also measured at baseline and at follow-up. The Cobb angle was measured on DXA-based Vertebral Fracture Assessments, made at the baseline and follow-up visit. Through linear and logistic regression analysis, we investigated the association between the kyphosis angle and physical performance and vice versa. We stratified for sex, and tested for effect modification by age and study center.Results: The mean kyphosis angle was 37° and 15% of the participants (n = 1 220, mean age 72.9 ± 5.7 years) had hyperkyphosis (Cobb angle ≥50°). A larger kyphosis angle at baseline was independently associated with a poorer total physical performance score in women of the oldest quartile (≥77 years) in both the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses (baseline B -0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.56-0.08; follow-up B 0.32, 95% CI -0.55-0.10). There was no association between physical performance at baseline and kyphosis progression.Conclusion: A larger kyphosis angle is independently associated with a poorer physical performance at baseline and over time, and the direction of this association is unidirectional. These results emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment of hyperkyphosis to prevent further worsening of the kyphosis angle, thereby potentially preserving physical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the genome of centenarians may give insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying extreme human longevity and the escape of age-related diseases. Here, we set out to construct polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for longevity and to investigate the functions of longevityassociated variants. Using a cohort of centenarians with maintained cognitive health (N = 343), a population-matched cohort of older adults from 5 cohorts (N = 2905), and summary statistics data from genome-wide association studies on parental longevity, we constructed a PRS including 330 variants that significantly discriminated between centenarians and older adults. This PRS was also associated with longer survival in an independent sample of younger individuals (p = .02), leading up to a 4-year difference in survival based on common genetic factors only. We show that this PRS was, in part, able to compensate for the deleterious effect of the APOE-ε4 allele. Using an integrative framework, we annotated the 330 variants included in this PRS by the genes they associate with. We find that they are enriched with genes associated with cellular differentiation, developmental processes, and cellular response to stress. Together, our results indicate that an extended human life span is, in part, the result of a constellation of variants each exerting small advantageous effects on aging-related biological mechanisms that maintain overall health and decrease the risk of age-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Age-related cognitive decline has large-scale functional and economic consequences and understanding its' pathophysiological mechanisms is therefore essential. Previous research has suggested associations between hormones adiponectin, ghrelin and leptin and neurodegenerative disease. However, their association with age-related cognitive decline has not been fully described. We examine the association between serum high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin, ghrelin and leptin and age-related cognitive decline in older adults.Methods: The associations between HMW adiponectin, ghrelin and leptin and the Mini-Mental-State-Examination, Coding task (Coding), 15 Words Test (15WT) and composite Z-score (general cognitive function) were analyzed by means of a sex-stratified multivariable linear regression analysis in a population-based cohort of 898 older adults at baseline and after 3 years of follow-up.Results: In women, we found a positive association between HMW adiponectin and general cognitive function at baseline (fully adjusted model composite Z-score standardized regression co-efficient beta [β] = .089, p = .025). After 3 years of follow-up, HMW adiponectin was associated with more decline in general cognitive function and information processing speed (fully adjusted model composite Z-score β = -.123, p = .018; Coding β = -.116, p = .027). Ghrelin and leptin were significantly associated with memory in a baseline subgroup analysis of older women. For men, we found no significant associations at baseline or follow-up.Conclusion: Our results show variable associations between hormones HMW adiponectin, ghrelin and leptin and age-related cognitive decline in women but not in men. As there was no clear trend, all our results should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have suggested that the association between APOE ɛ 4 and dementia is moderated by physical activity (PA), but the results remain inconclusive and longitudinal data on cognitive decline are missing. In this study, we examine whether there is a gene-environment interaction between APOE and PA on cognitive decline in older adults using 9-year follow-up data of three cohort studies.Methods: We followed 7,176 participants from three longitudinal cohort studies: Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), InCHIANTI, and Rotterdam Study for 9 years. PA was assessed with self-reported questionnaires and was categorized in low, moderate, and high PA. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and cognitive decline was defined as a decrease of three points or more on the MMSE during 3 years follow-up. We fitted logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations adjusting for age, sex, education, depressive symptoms, and number of chronic disease. Interaction between APOE and PA was tested on multiplicative and additive scale.Results: Cohorts were similar in most aspects but InCHIANTI participants were on average older and had lower education. APOE ɛ 4 carriers had higher odds of cognitive decline (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-1.64) while PA was not significantly associated with cognitive decline overall (moderate PA: OR = 0.87, 0.67-1.13; high PA: OR = 0.71, 0.36-1.40). There was no evidence for an interaction effect between PA and APOE ɛ 4 in cognitive decline in older adults (APOE × moderate PA: p = .83; APOE × high PA: p = .90).Conclusions: Previous claims of a gene-environment interaction between APOE ɛ 4 and PA in cognitive decline are not supported by our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical performance is an important factor for successful aging. This study aimed to identify distinct trajectories of multiple physical performance measures over 9 years in individuals aged 60-70 years and to evaluate their characteristics and the overlap between measures.Methods: Four physical performance measures were assessed in 440 participants of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: tandem stand, gait speed, chair stand, and handgrip strength. Gender-specific latent class models were conducted to obtain distinct trajectories and their degree of overlap.Results: Mean age at baseline was 67.9 (SD 1.7) years for males and 68.0 (SD 1.7) years for females. The optimal number of trajectories differed across measures. For tandem stand, no distinct trajectories were found (all 179 males, 198 females). For gait speed, three trajectories were identified, dependent on baseline speed: high-stable (47 males, 27 females), intermediate-stable (132 males, 130 females), and low-declining performance (6 males, 48 females). Two trajectories were identified for the chair stand: a stable (168 males, 150 females) and declining trajectory (10 males, 38 females). For handgrip strength, three declining trajectories were identified differing in baseline performance: high (55 males, 75 females), intermediate (111 males, 118 females), and low (17 males, 10 females). Overall, 11.9% of males and 5.7% of females were classified in similar trajectories across measures.Conclusions: Trajectories of physical performance were heterogeneous, but showed similar patterns for males and females. Little overlap between measures was shown, suggesting different mechanisms for decline. This study emphasizes the use of multiple domains to assess physical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim was to investigate the associations of sarcopenia as defined by European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project, and their underlying components, with the incidence of recurrent falling and fractures.Methods: In 498 older men and women (mean age = 75.2 [SD = 6.4]) from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), the sarcopenia components lean mass (DXA), handgrip strength (handheld dynamometer), and gait speed were measured. Data on falls (3-year follow-up) and fractures (10-year follow-up) were collected. Cox regression analyses were performed, adjusting for age, sex, and total body fat.Results: Recurrent falling occurred in 130 persons and 60 persons experienced a fracture during follow-up. Participants who were identified as sarcopenic based on the FNIH definitions had a more than 2-fold increased risk to become a recurrent faller. There was no association between sarcopenia based on the EWGSOP definition and incidence of recurrent falling. When the sarcopenia components were examined individually, only a low grip strength was associated with incidence of recurrent falling, independent of a low lean mass or a slow gait speed. Sarcopenia according to both definitions was not associated with incident fractures, which may be caused by low statistical power.Conclusion: Sarcopenia according to the FNIH definitions, but not according to the EWGSOP definition was associated with recurrent falling. When examining the individual components, only a low grip strength was independently associated with recurrent falling. No associations between sarcopenia with incidence of fractures were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study explored the associations between various types of activities, their underlying physical components, and recurrent falling in community-dwelling older persons. Methods. This study included 1,329 community-dwelling persons (≥65 years) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). The time spent in walking, cycling, light and heavy household activities, and two sports was measured using the LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire (LAPAQ). Physical activity components included strength, intensity, mechanical strain, and turning. Time to second fall in a 6-month period was measured during 3 years with fall calendars. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for confounders and stratified for physical performance and sex in case of significant (p < .10) interaction. Results. During 3 years, 325 (24.5%) persons became recurrent fallers. In women, doing light (hazard ratios [HRs] = 0.40, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = 0.20–0.79) or heavy household activities (HR = 0.63, CI = 0.44–0.79) was associated with a decreased risk of recurrent falling. In persons with good physical performance, doing sports (HR = 1.56, CI = 1.07–2.28), high intensity (HR > 1.75, CI = 1.09–3.16), and high mechanical strain (HR = 1.70, CI = 1.01–2.83) activities was associated with an increased risk of recurrent falling. Conclusions. The results suggest that the relationship between physical activity and recurrent falling differs per type of activity and is modified by physical performance. Doing household activities was associated with a decreased risk of recurrent falling in women. In physically fit older persons, doing sports or activities with high intensity or mechanical strain demands was associated with an increased risk of recurrent falling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]