Physiological changes associated with aging: Identification of novel biomarkers for frailty syndrome in women.

This study explores the physiological changes associated with aging that lead to frailty syndrome, characterized by reduced vitality and degeneration across multiple bodily systems, increasing susceptibility to various pathologies. While established scales like the Fried Phenotype and Frailty Trait Scale (FTS) are commonly used for assessing frailty, incorporating biomarkers is crucial for accurate diagnosis and prognosis. Our research examines plasma oxylipin levels in frail elderly individuals to identify novel biomarkers. Diagnostic criteria for frailty included assessments using the Fried Phenotype and FTS-5, with blood samples collected from 71 elderly participants (50 women and 21 men) with mean ages of 73.6 ± 5.9 and 76.2 ± 6.2 years, respectively. Women exhibited elevated platelet counts (p-value 0.0035). The significant differences in oxylipin concentrations associated with the Fried Phenotype were particularly noteworthy, predominantly observed in women. Specifically, in women, decreased grip strength (<15 kg) and slow gait speed (<0.8 m/s) correlated with increased levels of thromboxane B 2 (TxB 2) and 7-HDoHE (p-values 0.0404, 0.0300, 0.0033, and 0.0033, respectively). Additionally, elevated 7-HDoHE levels correlated with a BMI exceeding 28 kg/m2 (p-value 0.0123) and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) scores surpassing 5 points (p-value 0.0134) in women. In summary, our findings emphasize that frail older individuals, particularly women, exhibit higher levels of TxB 2 and 7-HDoHE compared to their non-frail counterparts, aligning with established frailty classification and scale parameters, suggesting their potential as indicative biomarkers. [Display omitted] • The Fried Phenotype and Frailty Trait Scale (FTS) assess frailty, but biomarkers are essential for precise diagnosis and prognosis. • 71 donors (50 women, 21 men) assessed for oxylipin levels as frailty biomarkers, correlating with phenotypes from frailty scales. • Most of the evaluated phenotypes exhibited distinct behavior and correlation with frailty, particularly in the women's group. • High TxB2 and 7-HDoHE levels in elderly women may serve as frailty biomarkers compared to non-frail counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]