Strength In Old Age Research Articles

The Association of Isocaloric Substitution of Dietary Protein in Middle Age with Muscle Mass and Strength in Old Age: The Hordaland Health Study

The Association of Isocaloric Substitution of Dietary Protein in Middle Age with Muscle Mass and Strength in Old Age: The Hordaland Health Study

Study on Replacement of Fine Aggregate with Light Weighted Super Absorbent Material in Internal Curing Concrete: A Review

The research on internal post-remediation approaches to high-performing concrete (HPC) for various materials is analyzed in this paper. To achieve the necessary internal hardness, lower the cement suspension's tendency to dry on its own, and drop the chance of cracks in the hardened concrete, common materials are required. Additionally, the behavior of HPC is the primary concern of this study, along with the microstructure of hydrated cement paste, density, strength (compression, tensile, and bending), and shrinkage (self-shrinking and drying). The findings indicated that internal hardness, instead of compressive strength, had a stronger effect on tensile and flexural strength in old age. The interfacial transition area gets denser and stronger as a result of internal solidification. Understanding the effect of waste on internal concrete (ICC) presents the primary challenge in analyzing prior research.

The Association of Isocaloric Substitution of Dietary Protein in Middle Age with Muscle Mass and Strength in Old Age: The Hordaland Health Study

BackgroundAge-associated loss of muscle mass and strength is an important predictor of disability in older persons. Although several mechanisms contribute to the decline in muscle mass and function seen with aging, the process is thought to be accelerated by an inadequate protein intake. However, the optimal amount and source of protein and the role of dietary protein intake over the life course remain uncertain. ObjectivesIn a sample of community-dwelling adults in Western Norway, the current study examined both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations over 20 y of dietary protein intake with appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) and muscle strength measured by handgrip strength (HGS) in older age. MethodsDietary intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) in middle age (46–49 y) and older age (67–70 y) within the community-based Hordaland Health Study. ResultsAdjusted, multivariate linear regression analyses revealed a negative cross-sectional association between the substitution of total protein (TP) and animal protein (AP), with fat and carbohydrates, on ASMM in women but not in men. No longitudinal associations were found between substitution of dietary protein intake and ASMM in either sex in adjusted models. Similarly, no cross-sectional or longitudinal associations were evident between substitution of dietary protein intake and HGS in either sex in adjusted models. ConclusionThe findings in the current study highlight the need to clarify the role of dietary protein intake in the maintenance of muscle mass and muscle strength in healthy older adults.

The association of dietary patterns with muscle mass and strength in old age: The Hordaland Health Study.

The single nutrient approach in nutrition research lacks the ability to account for synergistic relationships between dietary components. Current evidence suggests that diet quality, reflecting overall dietary intake, may influence muscle health. In a community-based observational study in Western Norway, we examined dietary patterns in relation to muscle mass and strength at age 67-70. The current analysis was conducted in men and women of The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK), who participated in both the second (HUSK2) and third study wave (HUSK3). Dietary patterns were extracted by principal component analysis (PCA) on food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data. Individual dietary pattern scores (DPS) for HUSK2 (age 46-49) and HUSK3 (age 67-70), and overall DPS (oDPS) were calculated. Outcome variables were appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) and handgrip strength (HGS)measured in HUSK3. The relationships of HUSK3 DPS and oDPS with ASMM and HGSwere assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for potential confounding factors. We identified three distinct dietary patterns, labelled 'Western', 'Healthy', and 'Sweets-focused'. A significant positive association was observed between the oDPS for the 'Healthy' dietary pattern and ASMM in both men and women at age 67-70. No significant associations were found between HUSK3 DPS or oDPS for any of the identified dietary patterns and HGS in our population. Higher oDPS on a dietary pattern predominantly rich in fish, vegetables, nuts and seeds, fruit and berries, and eggs was associated with better ASMM at age 67-70. To establish the influence of diet quality on muscle health, further long-term studies with repeated dietary assessments are warranted.

S05-4 Progressive muscle-strengthening exercise is feasible among older people in the ‘Strength in Old Age Program'

Abstract Strong legs and good balance increase mobility and prevent falls in old age. Gym exercise is an effective way to improve muscle strength in old age, particularly when organized in a progressive training program. Current challenge is to recognize and motivate older people to join muscle-strengthening exercise groups. The national “Strength in Old Age Program” (2005-) aims to launch guided strength and balance exercises for independently living older adults with decreased functional capacity. One core activity is to find and motivate old people to participate in a progressive 8-12-week muscle strengthening exercise program. We aimed to increase participation in the organized activity and support participation after the progressive program had ended, to improve the exercise facilities at local level, and to study the perceived benefits from the participants in the Program. Setting was real-life setting, i.e. no case-control trials were set. Good practices were developed to recognize and recruit participants for the program: perform functional capacity tests in locations where old people go as part of their routines, such as free flu vaccination events, use screening questionnaires systematically for all, and activate/guide health care professionals to refer the high-risk patients to gym training. Further, as many municipalities were limited in their gym facilities, the program developed the following solutions: collaborate with private sector service providers, purchase only the essential leg-strengthening devices and use cheap solutions, improve the quality of training by increasing training frequency and combine nutritional advice. The program aimed to improve sustainability of training, where several approaches were found successful: educate peers who instruct gym groups in future, develop the chain of professional exercise counselling from health care to sport sector, and provide free-of-charge gym training sessions to continue after their progressive program. The participants (Survey of exercise group participants, n = 1022) of the progressive gym training program perceived mostly good or strong benefits from their participation in the program. Participants who attended gym training felt the highest impact on muscle strength, fitness and activities of daily living, when compared to other types of training groups (eg balance training) in the program. Conclusion suggests that gym exercise is a feasible good practice that should be encouraged in real-life setting.

Associations of Physical Function and Physical Activity With COVID-19-Like Symptoms

Physical function and physical activity have been associated with health outcomes related to the cardiopulmonary and immune systems, but the extent to which they are related to the risk of developing COVID-19-like symptoms remains unclear. We aimed to explore these associations among Swedish older adults. We analyzed data from 904 individuals aged ≥68 years from the population-based Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. COVID-19-like symptoms were assessed by phone interview (March-June 2020) and included fever, cough, sore throat and/or a cold, headache, pain in muscles, legs and joints, loss of taste and/or odour, breathing difficulties, chest pain, gastrointestinal symptoms and eye inflammation. Muscle strength, mobility, and physical activity were objectively examined in 2016-2018. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models and stratifying by age. During the first outbreak of the pandemic, 325 (36%) individuals from our sample developed COVID-19-like symptoms. Those with longer time to perform the chair stand test had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.1) for presenting with COVID-19-like symptoms compared to those with a faster time to perform the test, after adjusting for potential confounders. The risk was even higher among people aged ≥80 years (OR: 2.6; 95% CI 1.5-4.7). No significant associations were found for walking speed or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. A weaker muscle strength, especially among the oldest-old adults, may contribute to higher odds of developing COVID-19-like symptoms, emphasizing the need to maintain sufficient levels of muscle strength in old age.

Associations of Physical Function and Physical Activity With COVID-19-Like Symptoms

Individuals find meaning in their personal activities. Meaningful activities can improve an individual's emotional and physical health and quality of life. The Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment-Meaningful Scale (MAPA-M), which can measure these meaningful activities, is measured in 29 items. In this study, the psychometric properties of 29 items of MAPA-M were investigated through Rasch analysis. The data used in this study was the Well Elderly Study 2 data among public data provided by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). We used 480 randomized samples from the Well Elderly Study 2 data. Before proceeding with the Rasch analysis, as a result of checking the unidimensionality assumption of 29 items, 19 items satisfied the unidimensionality assumption. As a result of Rasch analysis of 19 items, the Driving item was removed as misfit (infit mean-square = 2.04, infit z-standardized fit statistics = 9.90, outfit mean-square = 1.86, outfit z-standardized fit statistics = 8.99). The 18 items with the misfit items removed show a conceptual item-difficulty hierarchy, and there was no differential item functioning that worked for sex and age groups. The person strata value is 3.97, which corresponds to the confidence value of 0.88. These results indicate that the 18 items in MAPA-M show appropriate item-level psychometric properties. In other words, the modified MAPA-M 18 indicates that meaningful activities can be accurately and stably measured.

Age-Related Changes in Concentric and Eccentric Isokinetic Peak Torque of the Trunk Muscles in Healthy Older Versus Younger Men

This study investigated age-related changes in trunk muscle function in healthy men and the moderating effect of physical activity. Twelve older (67.3 ± 6.0years) and 12 younger (24.7 ± 3.1years) men performed isokinetic trunk flexion and extension tests across a range of angular velocities (15°/s-180°/s) and contractile modes (concentric and eccentric). For concentric trunk extension, mixed-effects analysis of covariance revealed a significant interaction between Angular velocity × Age group (p = .026) controlling for physical activity. Follow-up univariate analysis of covariance revealed that the younger group produced significantly greater peak torque for all concentric extension conditions. Eccentric trunk strength was somewhat preserved in the older group. Age-related changes in trunk strength were independent of physical activity. The normal loss of trunk muscle strength in older age is muscle- and contractile-mode specific. These findings provide guidance for effective intervention strategies to offset adverse health outcomes related to trunk strength loss in older adults.

Extent of aging across education and income subgroups in Thailand: Application of a characteristic-based age approach.

AimThis study aimed to identify differences in physical performance across various socioeconomic groups within an older population and to convert those differences into a common metric to facilitate comparisons of aging speed across socioeconomic subgroups.MethodsWe employed data from the 2009 National Health Examination Survey of Thailand. Physical performance was assessed using three health characteristics: grip strength, as a measure of upper body strength; walking speed, as a measure of lower body strength; and a combined measure of grip strength and walking speed, to capture the strength of the whole body. Education level and income were used to distinguish socioeconomic subpopulations. We followed a characteristic-based age approach to transform these population characteristics, which were measured in different units, into a common and comparable aging metric, referred to as α − age.ResultsPhysical aging trajectories varied by sex and socioeconomic status. Some education, particularly secondary or higher education levels, was significantly associated with greater physical strength in older age for both men and women, whereas higher income was significantly associated with physical strength only for men. Across the three health characteristics, having a primary education slowed age-related declines by up to 6.3 years among men and 2.8 years among women, whereas being in a higher income group slowed age-related declines by 8.2 years among men and up to 4.9 years among women.ConclusionsThis study adds new evidence from a developing Asian country regarding the difference in aging speeds across subpopulations associated with different levels of education and income.

Strength in Old Age

Strength in Old Age

Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Muscle Strength in Older Age

Background: Muscle weakness – a biomarker of health – may have its origins in early life and be related to factors such as adverse childhood experiences (ACE), which refer to a set of early-life traumatic and stressful psychosocial events out of the child’s control. To date, evidence of an association between ACE and muscle strength in older age is lacking. ­Objective: Here, we assessed the associations between ACE during the first 15 years of life and the risk of low muscle strength (LMS) later in life. We also examined whether adult-life socioeconomic circumstances (i.e., educational attainment, main occupational position, and satisfaction with household financial situation) and unhealthy behaviors (i.e., physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, smoking, and high level of alcohol consumption) explained this association. Methods: We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe, a 12-year cohort study with 6 ­repeated measurements between 2004 and 2015. Muscle strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer. Confounder-adjusted logistic mixed-effect models were used to examine the associations between ACE (child in care, parental death, parental mental illness, parental drinking, period of hunger, or property taken away) and the risk of LMS in older age. ­Results: 24,179 participants (96,372 observations; 13,477 women; aged 50–96 years) living in 14 countries were included. LMS increased with age for both genders. For women, there was a gradual increase in the risk of LMS with the number of experienced ACE (ORs = 1.22 for 1 ACE, 1.74 for ≥2 ACE compared to no ACE). However, there was no significant association among men. This association was only slightly attenuated when adjusting for socioeconomic circumstances and unhealthy behaviors in adulthood. Conclusions: ACE are associated with later-life muscle weakness among women. These associations were not compensated by the adoption of healthy behaviors or an improvement in socioeconomic circumstances in adulthood. These results suggest that tackling these early-life risk factors in women could promote long-term grip strength, a biomarker of aging.

Work, retirement, and muscle strength loss in old age

Reduced muscle strength is an accurate predictor of functional limitations, disability, and mortality. Hence, understanding which socio-economic factors contribute to preserve muscle strength in old age is central to the design of social policies that help reducing these health risks. Using data on handgrip strength collected by the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe for the population of Europeans aged 50+ and the exogenous variation in pension eligibility age across countries over time, we estimate that the retirement transition has a short-term positive causal effect on muscle strength. However, this protective effect is not persistent, as retirement speeds up the age-related trend in muscle strength loss, especially for blue-collar workers and males. The "holy grail" of early retirement may not be such a good deal for retirees' longevity and physical functioning late in life.

Vaestehoolekanne Põhja-Liivimaa külaühiskonnas 19. sajandil [Caring for the elderly and the poor in village society in the northern Livland in the nineteenth century

Vaestehoolekanne Põhja-Liivimaa külaühiskonnas 19. sajandil [Caring for the elderly and the poor in village society in the northern Livland in the nineteenth century

The Association of Levels of and Decline in Grip Strength in Old Age with Trajectories of Life Course Occupational Position.

BackgroundThe study of the influence of life course occupational position (OP) on health in old age demands analysis of time patterns in both OP and health. We study associations between life course time patterns of OP and decline in grip strength in old age.MethodsWe analyze 5 waves from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (n = 5108, ages 65–90). We use a pattern-mixture latent growth model to predict the level and decline in grip strength in old age by trajectory of life course OP. We extend and generalize the structured regression approach to establish the explanatory power of different life course models for both the level and decline of grip strength.ResultsGrip strength declined linearly by 0.70 kg (95% CI -0.74;-0.66) for men and 0.42 kg (95% CI -0.45;-0.39) for women per year. The level of men’s grip strength can best be explained by a critical period during midlife, with those exposed to low OP during this period having 1.67 kg (95% CI -2.33;-1.00) less grip strength. These differences remain constant over age. For women, no association between OP and levels of or decline in grip strength was found.ConclusionsMen’s OP in midlife seems to be a critical period for the level of grip strength in old age. Inequalities remain constant over age. The integration of the structured regression approach and latent growth modelling offers new possibilities for life course epidemiology.

Age-related maintenance of eccentric strength: a study of temperature dependence.

With adult aging, eccentric strength is maintained better than isometric strength leading to a higher ratio of eccentric/isometric force production (ECC/ISO) in older than younger adults. The purpose was to investigate the ECC/ISO during electrical activation of the adductor pollicis during lengthening (20-320°s(-1)) contractions in 24 young (n=12, ∼24years) and old (n=12, ∼72years) males across muscle temperatures (cold ∼19°C; normal ∼30°C; warm ∼35°C). For isometric force, the old were 20-30% weaker in the normal and cold conditions (P<0.05) with no difference for the warm condition compared to young (P>0.05). Half-relaxation time (HRT) did not differ across age for the normal and warm temperatures (P>0.05), but it slowed significantly for old in the cold condition compared with young (∼15%; P<0.05), as well, there was a 20 and 40% increase in muscle stiffness for the young and old, respectively. ECC/ISO was 50-60% greater for the cold condition than the normal and warm conditions. There was no age difference in ECC/ISO across ages for the normal and warm conditions (P>0.05), but for the cold, the old exhibited a 20-35% higher ECC/ISO than did the young for velocities above 60°s(-1) (P<0.05). A contributing factor to the elevated ECC/ISO is an increased proportion of weakly compared to strongly bound crossbridges. These findings highlight the relationship (r=0.70) between intrinsic muscle contractile speed (HRT) and eccentric strength in old age.

Effects of age and starting age upon side asymmetry in the arms of veteran tennis players: a cross-sectional study

While tennis playing results in large bone strength benefits in the racquet arm of young players, the effects of tennis playing in old players have not been investigated. Large side asymmetries in bone strength were found in veteran players, which were more pronounced in men, younger players and childhood starters. Regular tennis results in large racquet arm bone and muscle strength advantages; however, these effects have not been studied in old players. The non-racquet arm can act as an internal control for the exercising racquet arm without confounding factors, e.g. genotype. Therefore, veteran tennis player side asymmetries were examined to investigate age, sex and starting age effects on bone exercise benefits. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scans were taken at the radius, ulna and humerus mid-shaft and distal radius in both arms of 88 tennis players (51 males, 37 females; mean age 63.8 ± 11.8 years). Thirty-two players began playing in adulthood, thereby termed 'old starters'; players were otherwise termed 'young starters'. Muscle size and bone strength were greater in the racquet arm; notably, distal radius bone mineral content (BMC) was 13 ± 10% higher and humeral bone area 23 ± 12% larger (both P < 0.001). Epiphyseal BMC asymmetry was not affected by age (P = 0.863) or sex (P = 0.954), but diaphyseal asymmetries were less pronounced in older players and women, particularly in the humerus where BMC, area and moment of resistance asymmetries were 28-34 % less in women (P < 0.01). Bone area and periosteal circumference asymmetries were smaller in old starters (all P < 0.01); most notably, no distal radius asymmetry was found in this group (0.4 ± 3.4%). Tennis participation is associated with large side asymmetries in muscle and bone strength in old age. Larger relative side asymmetries in men, younger players and young starters suggest a greater potential for exercise benefits to bone in these groups.

Effect of physical activity at midlife on skeletal muscle mass in old age in community-dwelling older women: A cross-sectional study

Background/PurposeMeasures to prevent the development of muscle mass decline should be initiated from midlife. However, the impact of physical activity at midlife on muscle mass in old age remains uncertain. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether physical activity at midlife influences muscle mass and physical performance in old age. MethodsA total of 272 Japanese women aged 65 years and older were enrolled in the study. Information about physical activity levels at midlife and in old age were collected using a retrospective questionnaire. We calculated the skeletal muscle mass index in old age and recorded the participants' walking speed and hand grip strength in old age. We then classified the participants into four groups according to their physical activity levels at midlife and in old age and conducted multiple linear regression analysis to determine whether the physical activity levels at midlife and in old age were associated with skeletal muscle mass index and physical performance in old age. ResultsThe participants in the groups that were physically inactive at midlife had a significantly lower skeletal muscle mass index in old age than those who were physically active at midlife (p < 0.01). Participants in the groups that were physically inactive in old age also had significantly slower walking speeds at old age than those who were physically active (p < 0.01). These associations remained significant after adjustment for age and body mass index. ConclusionPhysical activity at midlife may be associated with a higher muscle mass in old age and physical activity in old age may be associated with higher walking speeds in old age.

Increased Residual Force Enhancement in Older Adults Is Associated with a Maintenance of Eccentric Strength

Despite an age-related loss of voluntary isometric and concentric strength, muscle strength is well maintained during lengthening muscle actions (i.e., eccentric strength) in old age. Additionally, in younger adults during lengthening of an activated skeletal muscle, the force level observed following the stretch is greater than the isometric force at the same muscle length. This feature is termed residual force enhancement (RFE) and is believed to be a combination of active and passive components of the contractile apparatus. The purpose of this study was to provide an initial assessment of RFE in older adults and utilize aging as a muscle model to explore RFE in a system in which isometric force production is compromised, but structural mechanisms of eccentric strength are well-maintained. Therefore, we hypothesised that older adults will experience greater RFE compared with young adults. Following a reference maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) of the dorsiflexors in 10 young (26.1±2.7y) and 10 old (76.0±6.5y) men, an active stretch was performed at 15°/s over a 30° ankle joint excursion ending at the same muscle length as the reference MVCs (40° of plantar flexion). Any additional torque compared with the reference MVC therefore represented RFE. In older men RFE was ∼2.5 times greater compared to young. The passive component of force enhancement contributed ∼37% and ∼20% to total force enhancement, in old and young respectively. The positive association (R 2 = 0.57) between maintained eccentric strength in old age and RFE indicates age-related mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of eccentric strength likely contributed to the observed elevated RFE. Additionally, as indicated by the greater passive force enhancement, these mechanisms may be related to increased muscle series elastic stiffness in old age.

Physical Activity at Age of 20-64 Years and Mobility and Muscle Strength in Old Age: A Community-Based Study

Physical activity in midlife has been related to lower mortality and better health in old age. The present study evaluated whether physical activity at age of 20-64 years was associated with mobility and muscle strength in old age. A random sample of 1,000 persons was extracted from all the ≥75-year-old people living in Kuopio, Finland, and 679 community-dwelling participants were included in the present analyses. Data on health status, ability to walk outside or 400 m, and physical activity level were obtained through structured interviews. Participants' walking speed, grip strength, and knee extension strength were measured by physiotherapists. Relationship between physical activity at age of 20-64 years and old-age mobility and strength was assessed using logistic regression and covariance analyses. Of the 679 participants (mean age 80.8 years), 58.8% had been physically active at age of 20-64 years. Physical activity at that age was positively associated with ability to walk 400 m independently in old age (adjusted odds ratio 2.17, 95% confidence intervals: 1.25-3.77). Men who had been physically active at age of 20-64 years had greater walking speed (adjusted p = .01) and grip strength (adjusted p = .02) compared with physically inactive men. In women, the results did not differ statistically significantly. Physical activity at age of 20-64 years was associated with better mobility in old age. It was also linked to better grip strength and walking speed in older men but not in women.

Physical Activity Across Adulthood and Physical Performance in Midlife: Findings from a British Birth Cohort

BackgroundEvidence, mainly from cross-sectional studies, suggests that physical activity is a potentially important modifiable factor associated with physical performance and strength in older age. It is unclear whether the benefits of physical activity accumulate across life or whether there are sensitive periods when physical activity is more influential.PurposeTo examine the associations of leisure-time physical activity across adulthood with physical performance and strength in midlife, and to test whether there are cumulative benefits of physical activity.MethodsUsing data on approximately 2400 men and women from the UK Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, followed up since birth in March 1946, the associations of physical activity levels during leisure time self-reported prospectively at ages 36, 43, and 53 years with grip strength, standing balance, and chair rise times, assessed by nurses at age 53 years (in 1999), were examined in 2010.ResultsThere were independent positive effects of physical activity at all three ages on chair rise performance, and at ages 43 and 53 years on standing balance performance, even after adjusting for covariates. These results were supported by evidence of cumulative effects found when using structured life course models. Physical activity and grip strength were not associated in women and, in men, only physical activity at age 53 years was associated with grip strength.ConclusionsThere are cumulative benefits of physical activity across adulthood on physical performance in midlife. Increased activity should be promoted early in adulthood to ensure the maintenance of physical performance in later life.