Physical Performance In Old Age Research Articles

Exercise habits during middle age are associated with lower prevalence of sarcopenia: the ROAD study

The present cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia and clarified its associated factors in 1,000 elderly participants of Japanese population-based cohorts. Exercise habit in middle age was associated with low prevalence of sarcopenia in older age, suggesting that it is a protective factor against sarcopenia in older age. The present study investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) definition, and clarified the association of sarcopenia with physical performance in the elderly participants of Japanese population-based cohorts of the Research on Osteoarthritis/osteoporosis Against Disability (ROAD) study. We enrolled 1,000 participants (aged ≥65 years) from the second visit of the ROAD study who had completed assessment of handgrip strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle mass measured by bioimpedance analysis. Presence of sarcopenia was determined according to the EWGSOP algorithm. Information collected included exercise habits in middle age. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 13.8 % in men and 12.4 % in women, and tended to be significantly higher according to increasing age in both sexes. Factors associated with sarcopenia, as determined by logistic regression analysis, were chair stand time (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.14), one-leg standing time (OR, 0.97; 95 % CI, 0.96-0.99), and exercise habit in middle age (OR, 0.53; 95 % CI, 0.31-0.90). Exercise habit in middle age was associated with low prevalence of sarcopenia in older age. Furthermore, linear regression analysis revealed that exercise habits in middle age were significantly associated with grip strength (P < .001), gait speed (P < .001), and one-leg standing time (P = .005) in older age. This cross-sectional study suggests that exercise habit in middle age is a protective factor against sarcopenia in older age and effective in maintaining muscle strength and physical performance in older age.

Childhood milk consumption is associated with better physical performance in old age

studies have shown that milk and dairy consumption in adulthood have beneficial effects on health. we examined the impact of childhood and adult diet on physical performance at age 63-86 years. The Boyd Orr cohort (n=405) is a 65-year prospective study of children who took part in a 1930's survey; the Caerphilly Prospective Study (CaPS; n=1,195) provides data from mid-life to old age. We hypothesised that higher intakes of childhood and adult milk, calcium, protein, fat and energy would be associated with a better performance. in fully adjusted models, a standard deviation (SD) increase in natural log-transformed childhood milk intake was associated with 5% faster walking times from the get-up and go test in Boyd Orr (95% CI: 1to 9) and 25% lower odds of poor balance (OR: 0.75; 0.55to 1.02). Childhood calcium intake was positively associated with walking times (4% faster per SD; 0to 8) and a higher protein intake was associated with lower odds of poor balance (OR: 0.71; 0.54to 0.92). In adulthood, protein intake was positively associated with walking times (2% faster per SD; 1to 3; Boyd Orr and CaPS pooled data). this is the first study to show positive associations of childhood milk intake with physical performance in old age.

Associations of Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factors with Physical Performance in Old Age in the Boyd Orr and Caerphilly Studies

ObjectiveInsulin and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system regulate growth and are involved in determining muscle mass, strength and body composition. We hypothesised that IGF-I and IGF-II are associated with improved, and insulin with worse, physical performance in old age.MethodsPhysical performance was measured using the get-up and go timed walk and flamingo balance test at 63–86 years. We examined prospective associations of insulin, IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 with physical performance in the UK-based Caerphilly Prospective Study (CaPS; n = 739 men); and cross-sectional insulin, IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 in the Boyd Orr cohort (n = 182 men, 223 women).ResultsIn confounder-adjusted models, there was some evidence in CaPS that a standard deviation (SD) increase in IGF-I was associated with 1.5% faster get-up and go test times (95% CI: −0.2%, 3.2%; p = 0.08), but little association with poor balance, 19 years later. Coefficients in Boyd Orr were in the same direction as CaPS, but consistent with chance. Higher levels of insulin were weakly associated with worse physical performance (CaPS and Boyd Orr combined: get-up and go time = 1.3% slower per SD log-transformed insulin; 95% CI: 0.0%, 2.7%; p = 0.07; OR poor balance 1.13; 95% CI; 0.98, 1.29; p = 0.08), although associations were attenuated after controlling for body mass index (BMI) and co-morbidities. In Boyd Orr, a one SD increase in IGFBP-2 was associated with 2.6% slower get-up and go times (95% CI: 0.4%, 4.8% slower; p = 0.02), but this was only seen when controlling for BMI and co-morbidities. There was no consistent evidence of associations of IGF-II, or IGFBP-3 with physical performance.ConclusionsThere was some evidence that high IGF-I and low insulin levels in middle-age were associated with improved physical performance in old age, but estimates were imprecise. Larger cohorts are required to confirm or refute the findings.

Diet in childhood and adulthood and physical performance in old age: Findings from the Boyd Orr and Caerphilly cohorts

BackgroundThe ability to undertake physical tasks of everyday living is important for successful ageing. Assessments of physical performance, such as the get up and go timed walk and flamingo test...

Einstellungen zum eigenen Altern: Eine Alters- oder eine Ressourcenfrage?

Recent studies have demonstrated that positive and negative stereotypes and attitudes toward age and aging may have substantial effects on the longterm development of cognitive and physical performance in old age. Relatively little is known to which degree attitudes toward one's own aging depend on (a) the current level of individual resources, (b) changes in the level of individual resources, or (c) the increasing age of older persons. The present study examined the relations between individual physical, mental, and cognitive resources and the attitudes toward one's own aging. The study was conducted with N=500 participants of the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development (ILSE) born between 1930 and 1932 (age: M=63.0, SD=0.9 at T1 and M=66.9, SD=0.9 at T2). The results indicate that the attitudes toward one's own aging (a) become more negative with increasing age, (b) most strongly depend on the available resources, (c) changes in level of resources contribute to the prediction of the attitudes toward one's own aging, and (d) age acts more as a reinforcing factor on the relation between resources and attitudes than as an independent factor on the attitudes toward one's own aging.

Antioxidants and physical performance in elderly persons: the Invecchiare in Chianti (InCHIANTI) study

Muscle strength and physical performance in old age might be related to the oxidative damage caused by free radicals. The objective was to assess the correlation of plasma concentrations and daily dietary intakes of antioxidants with skeletal muscle strength and physical performance in elderly persons. This study is part of the Invecchiare in Chianti (InCHIANTI) study, which was conducted in 986 Italians aged > or = 65 y. Physical performance was assessed on the basis of walking speed, ability to rise from a chair, and standing balance. Knee extension strength was assessed with a hand-held dynamometer. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) questionnaire was used to evaluate the daily dietary intakes of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and retinol. Plasma alpha- and gamma-tocopherol concentrations were measured. Adjusted linear regression analyses were used to calculate regression coefficients per SD increase in plasma concentrations and daily dietary intakes. In adjusted analyses, plasma alpha-tocopherol was significantly correlated with knee extension (beta = 0.566, P = 0.003) and the summary physical performance score (beta = 0.044, P = 0.008). Plasma gamma-tocopherol was associated only with knee extension strength (beta = 0.327, P = 0.04). Of the daily dietary intake measures, vitamin C and beta-carotene were significantly correlated with knee extension strength, and vitamin C was significantly associated with physical performance (beta = 0.029, P = 0.04). Plasma antioxidant concentrations correlate positively with physical performance and strength. Higher dietary intakes of most antioxidants, especially vitamin C, appear to be associated with higher skeletal muscular strength in elderly persons.

Do socioeconomic disadvantages persist into old age? Self-reported morbidity in a 29-year follow-up of the Whitehall Study.

This study examined (1) the relation of employment grade in middle age to self-reported poor health and functional limitations in old age and (2) whether socioeconomic status at approximately the time of retirement modifies health differentials in old age. Survivors of the Whitehall Study cohort of men were resurveyed. Respondents were aged 40 to 69 years when they were originally screened in 1967 to 1970. Compared with senior administrators, men in clerical or manual (low-grade) jobs in middle age had quadruple the odds of poor physical performance in old age, triple the odds of poor general health, and double the odds of poor mental health and disability. At most, 20% of these differences were explained by baseline health or risk factors. Men who moved from low to middle grades before retirement were less likely than those who remained in low grades to have poor mental health. Socioeconomic status in middle age and at approximately retirement age is associated with morbidity in old age.

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Overview

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Overview

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Introduction

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Introduction

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Introduction

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Introduction

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Overview

Sarcopenia and physical performance in old age: Overview