Usual Walking Speed Research Articles

Gait speed in older adults: exploring the impact of functional, physical and social factors

Purpose: With age there is a neuromuscular and cognitive decline that impacts on functional ability. One of the most characteristic and easily recognisable signs of this decline is a decrease in usual gait speed. For older adults, gait speed is a non-invasive indicator of health and functional status and is regarded as a vital sign. As it predicts various conditions later in life, measuring usual walking speed is crucial in the clinical setting. Therefore, analysing and determining the association between walking speed and the impact of functional and socio-economic variables may facilitate the prevention of associated health problems and the maintenance of physical function in older adults. This study aims to identify the key factors that influence walking speed in older adults, as well as to examine the influence of socio-economic status on walking speed. Methods: A total of 1253 older adults (89.5% women) with a mean age of 78.1 ± 5.8 voluntarily participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study, which examines the results of functional capacity tests and socioeconomic data in older adults. To assess physical function, SPPB tests (chair stand test, balance tests, gait speed test), manual grip strength, muscle quality index, and power were conducted, in addition to measuring body composition and socioeconomic status. Results: The final regression model showed that gait speed was significantly partially explained (R2=0.35; p<0.01) by the socioeconomic environment, age, balance, and relative power. At the same time, belonging to a higher socio-economic environment is linked to lower relative power (p<0.01; η2=0.07). Conclusions: Exploring the factors that affect walking speed in older adults, this study highlights that age, relative power and balance are significant determinants. These clinical markers provide crucial information for designing personalized and effective interventions to promote healthy aging. Keywords: Frailty, gait speed, elderly, relative power, socioeconomic status.

Senior Theater Projects: Enhancing Physical Health and Reducing Depression in Older Adults.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of a theater training program intervention on the physical and cognitive functions in community-dwelling older people. Of the 59 participants, 30 were the control group, and 29 were the intervention group. We assessed physical and mental/cognitive functions and criteria of physical frailty. Statistical analysis showed that the usual walking speed (UWS) (p < 0.01), grip strength (GS) (p < 0.01), and GDS-15 (p < 0.05) improved significantly in the intervention group, whereas the Geriatric Depression Scale short-form (GDS-15) (p < 0.01) worsened significantly in the control group. Cognitive function was not significantly different between the two groups. Physical frailty was unchanged in the control group but significantly improved in the intervention group (p < 0.05), and a significant interaction was found for GDS-15 in ANOVA (F = 5.76, p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that a theater intervention for the older adults may be effective in preventing and improving depression and physical frailty in old age.

Sarcopenia Is Associated with Neoplasm of Bone and Articular Cartilage: Findings from Mendelian Randomized Study.

Exploring the causal relationship between sarcopenia and neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage (NBAC) by bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on sarcopenia-associated traits including appendicular lean mass, low handgrip strength (including criteria from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health), and usual walking speeds were obtained from the UK Biobank. GWAS data for NBAC (benign and malignant) were provided by the Finnish Genetic Database. Three different methods of MR analysis, including inverse-variance weighted, Mendelian randomized Egger regression, and weighted median methods, were utilized. MR analysis showed that high appendicular lean mass was positively associated with the risk of developing benign NBAC (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval = 1.236 (1.026,1.489), p = 0.025). At the same time, there is no statistically significant association was found between traits related to sarcopenia and malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage. There was also no reverse causal correlation between NBAC and traits related to sarcopenia. In European populations, better appendicular lean body mass is positively associated with the risk of benign neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage, representing the possibility that sarcopenia may be a protective factor against neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage.

Association between the Intake/Type of Cheese and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Women in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

While many studies have described the association between cognitive decline and eating habits, little attention has been paid to its association with cheese intake. In this epidemiological study of 1035 community-dwelling women aged ≥ 65, we investigated the association between intake/type of cheese and cognitive function. The anthropometry, functional ability, and the frequency of food intake, including cheese, were assessed. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function, and a score of 20-26 was operationally defined as mild cognitive decline. We found that the MMSE score was significantly different between the presence of cheese intake and not (cheese intake: 28.4 ± 1.9; non-cheese intake: 27.6 ± 2.4) and between those who consumed Camembert cheese and those who did not (Camembert cheese: 28.7 ± 1.4; others: 28.3 ± 2.0). After adjusting for confounders, multiple logistic regression identified four independent variables significantly associated with mild cognitive decline: Camembert cheese intake (odds ratio = 0.448, 95% confidence interval = 0.214-0.936), age, usual walking speed, and repetitive saliva swallowing test scores. Our results, while based on cross-sectional data from Japanese community-dwelling older women, identified the significant inverse association between Camembert cheese intake and mild cognitive decline.

Improvement of social frailty is associated with stability of nonparametric characteristics of the rest-activity rhythm and improvement of the usual walking ability in the elderly

ABSTRACT Our study, conducted between April 2022 and January 2024, was aimed at clarifying components of the rest-activity rhythm (RAR) involved in improvement of social frailty state before or after a 3-month multi-component exercise intervention in the elderly. Participants were recruited from the general population in Akita prefecture, Japan. We administered a four-item social frailty screening questionnaire to classify the severity of social frailty in each participant before and after the 3-month intervention. The RAR parameters were measured on an Actiwatch Spectrum Plus device worn by the subjects for 7 continuous days. As the final sample, 65 participants classified into the improved/maintained group (n = 36) or the deteriorated group (n = 29) according to the change in the social frailty classification after the intervention were included in the analysis. The results of a binomial logistic regression analysis showed significantly higher values of interdaily stability (IS) and usual walking speed at the post-test after the intervention. Based on our findings, we propose that stability of the rest-activity rhythm related to synchronization with external stimuli (such as social effect and physical activity) might have clinical impact on improvement of social frailty state in elderly community-dwellers.

Daily-Life Walking Speed, Quality and Quantity Derived from a Wrist Motion Sensor: Large-Scale Normative Data for Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Walking is crucial for independence and quality of life. This study leverages wrist-worn sensor data from UK Biobank participants to establish normative daily-life walking data, stratified by age and sex, to provide benchmarks for research and clinical practice. The Watch Walk digital biomarkers were developed, validated, and applied to 92,022 participants aged 45-79 who wore a wrist sensor for at least three days. Normative data were collected for daily-life walking speed, step-time variability, step count, and 17 other gait and sleep biomarkers. Test-retest reliability was calculated, and associations with sex, age, self-reported walking pace, and mobility problems were examined. Population mean maximal and usual walking speeds were 1.49 and 1.15 m/s, respectively. The daily step count was 7749 steps, and step regularity was 65%. Women walked more regularly but slower than men. Walking speed, step count, longest walk duration, and step regularity decreased with age. Walking speed is associated with sex, age, self-reported pace, and mobility problems. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent (ICC ≥ 0.80). This study provides large-scale normative data and benchmarks for wrist-sensor-derived digital gait and sleep biomarkers from real-world data for future research and clinical applications.

Efficacy of exercise with the hybrid assistive limb lumbar type on physical function in mobility-limited older adults: A 5-week randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSarcopenia and frailty often worsen in older adults because of declines in activities of daily living and social connections that are associated with chronic diseases and traumatic injuries such as falls and fractures. Exercise intervention for sarcopenia can take >3 months to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and walking speed. Thus, a specialized intervention system for shorter periods of time is needed. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the short-term efficacy of an exercise program using the wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) lumbar type in physical function in mobility-limited older adults who do not require transition to long-term care. MethodsThis randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study involved 79 community-dwelling older adults with physical frailty or locomotive syndrome assigned to an intervention group (n = 40) with the HAL lumbar type exercise program or a control group (n = 39) without the exercise program. The intervention group underwent trunk training (including trunk and hip flexion, standing and sitting from a single sitting position, and squats) and gait training (treadmill and parallel bars) twice a week for 5 weeks while wearing the HAL lumbar type. The 10-m usual and maximum walking speeds, Timed Up and Go test results, 5-times chair-standing test results, 5-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-5) scores, body-fat percentage, and muscle mass were measured before and after the intervention and analyzed using the intention-to-treat method. ResultsThe intervention (23 % male; mean age, 74.7 ± 4.7 years) and control (21 % male; mean age, 75.1 ± 4.1 years) groups did not differ significantly in baseline characteristics. Seventy-seven participants completed the program; two withdrew for personal reasons. The mean difference (standard error) between the groups for the primary outcome (usual walking speed) was 0.35 (0.04) m/s; the time-by-group interaction was significant (p < 0.001). Secondary outcomes (maximum walking speed, Timed Up and Go test results, 5-times chair-standing test results, and GLFS-5 scores) significantly improved in the intervention group. Body composition was unchanged in both groups. ConclusionsA 5-week exercise program using the HAL lumbar type is a promising option for community-dwelling older adults with limited mobility who do not require nursing care, resulting in clinically meaningful improvements in most physical functions within a short period.

Associations between accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour with physical function among older women: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the relationships between accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) with physical function (PF) among older Chinese women in the community.MethodsThe present study comprised 1,113 community-dwelling older females, with an average age of 65 ± 2 years. We employed a linear regression analysis to investigate the relationship between patterns of PA and SB with PF. PA variables consisted of total PA time, bouted PA time (a continuous PA that lasts equal to or more than 10 min), and sporadic PA time (a continuous PA that lasts less than 10 min). SB variables included total SB time, 30-min bout of SB (a continuous SB that lasts equal to or more than 30 min), and 60-min bout of SB (a continuous SB that lasts equal to or more than 60 min). PF variables comprised handgrip strength (HGS), one-legged stance test with eyes closed (OLSTEC), usual walking speed (UWS), maximum walking speed (MWS) and chair-stand time (CT). To explore the joint effects of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) and SB on PF, we divided the duration of SB and MVPA participation in older women into different combinations: low MVPA & high SB, low MVPA & low SB, high MVPA & high SB, high MVPA & low SB.ResultsThe study revealed a significant association between 30-min bout of SB and CT, which remained after adjusting for total MVPA time (P = 0.021). Both total MVPA and bouted MVPA were found to be positively associated with better UWS, MWS, CT, and PF Z-score. When the combination of low MVPA & high SB was used as a reference, the regression coefficients for PF ascended by 1.32 (P < 0.001) in the high MVPA & high SB group and by 1.13 (P < 0.001) in the high MVPA & low SB group.ConclusionsA significant association was observed between poorer lower limb function and prolonged, uninterrupted SB in older women, rather than with the total SB time. Concurrently, the insufficient engagement in MVPA may also be a crucial factor contributing to poorer PF in older women. Engaging in longer durations and higher intensity of PA, such as bouts of MVPA lasting a minimum of 10 min or longer, may contribute to better PF.

Characteristics of cadence during continuous walking in daily life

Despite the acknowledged relationship between the usual (preferred) walking speed (UWS) and health, there is currently no practical method available to reliably and accurately detect slight changes in UWS. This study aimed to explore whether either of the following two phenomena occurs during continuous daily walking in various periods: (a) Similarity between the most frequent cadences in the two periods. (b) The occurrence of the most frequent cadence in at least one of the two periods during the other period, with a frequency close to that of the most frequent cadence. In August 2021, invitations to participate in the study were extended via email to participants that took part in the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Surveys (JACSIS). A mobile phone application that collected step data during continuous walking was provided to the participants, and data were collected from December 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022. While 1022 participants installed the phone application, only 505 had measurement data for ten days or more in each of the two months of the study duration. The cadence during continuous walking was automatically measured daily from 05:00 to 21:00. Most participants exhibited at least one of the phenomena mentioned above, confirming a common, notably frequent, invariant cadence over time. Overall, this method allows for the identification of minor reductions and lower bounds of decline in UWS. This study illustrates the potential for tracking a decreasing trend in UWS. Early detection of a downward trend permits individuals to take timely remedial action, as recovery is relatively easy, and the confirmation of even a slight recovery bolsters recovery motivation.

Comparison of the masses and amounts of intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the lower extremity muscles, mobility and balance ability, and cognitive function between older adults with and without low back pain: A pilot study

IntroductionThis study compared the masses and amounts of intramuscular non-contractile tissue of multiple lower extremity muscles measured using an ultrasound imaging device, as well as the mobility and balance ability and cognitive function between community-dwelling older adults with and without low back pain (LBP). MethodsTwenty-five community-dwelling older adults were classified into control (CTR) (n = 17, asymptomatic) and LBP (n = 8) groups. The current LBP status in the LBP group was as follows: duration period: 99.4 ± 81.3 months, Numerical Rating Scale: 4.8 ± 0.9, and Oswestry Disability Index: 15.3 ± 10.4%. The thicknesses and the echo intensities of various muscles (gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus; rectus femoris; vastus intermedius and lateralis; long and short heads of the biceps femoris; semitendinosus; semimembranosus; tibialis anterior; medial head of the gastrocnemius; soleus; and tibialis posterior) were measured using an ultrasound imaging device. Mobility and balance ability were assessed by measuring the usual and maximal walking speeds, timed up-and-go time, five-chair-stand time, and one-legged stance time. Mini-Mental State Examination scores were also assessed. ResultsThe gluteus medius muscle thickness was significantly lower in the LBP group than in the CTR group. The thicknesses and echo intensities of the other lower extremity muscles did not differ significantly between the CTR and LBP groups. The usual walking speed was also significantly slower in the LBP group than in the CTR group. Balance ability and cognitive function did not differ significantly between the two groups. ConclusionThe results of the present study demonstrated lower gluteus medius muscle mass and slower usual walking speed in community-dwelling older adults with LBP compared to those in older adults without LBP; however, other variables did not differ significantly between these groups.

Purpose in life and slow walking speed: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.

The present research examines the association between purpose in life - a component of well-being defined as the feeling that one's life is goal-oriented and has direction - and slow walking speed and the risk of developing slow walking speed over time. Participants (N = 18,825) were from three established longitudinal studies of older adults. At baseline, participants reported on their purpose in life, and interviewers measured their usual walking speed. Walking speed was measured at annual or biannual follow-up waves up to 16years later. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to summarize the estimates from the individual studies. Every standard deviation higher in purpose in life (as a continuous measure) was associated with a lower likelihood of cross-sectional slow walking speed at baseline (meta-analytic OR = .80, 95% CI = .77-.83). Among participants who did not have slow walking speed at baseline (n = 8,448), every standard deviation higher purpose in life was associated with a lower likelihood of developing slow walking speed over the up to 16years of follow-up (meta-analytic HR = .93, 95% CI = .89-.96). Physical activity and disease burden accounted for 25% and 14% of the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations, respectively. The associations were independent of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education and not moderated by these factors. Higher purpose in life is associated with a lower risk of slow walking speed and a lower risk of developing slow walking speed over time. Purpose in life is a psychological resource that may help to support aspects of physical function, such as walking speed, and may help support better function with age.

Decrease in the usual walking speed and body fat percentage associated with a deterioration in long-term care insurance certification levels.

In Japan, the number of older adults requiring long-term care insurance (LTCI) is increasing and the cost is becoming a social problem. In these fields, the role of geriatric rehabilitation includes maintaining the physical function and LTCI certification levels. The prevalence of sarcopenia is high among older adults requiring LTCI certification, and there are many opportunities to assess the handgrip strength, walking speed, and muscle mass. This study aimed to identify sarcopenia-related assessments sensitive to transitions in LTCI certification levels and determine cut-off values to predict them. This prospective cohort study analyzed 98 daycare users (mean age±standard error: 78.5±0.8 years) between March 2019 and 2023. The participants received LTCI certification before the study, and their levels were renewed between baseline and follow-up (six months later). The measurements included handgrip strength, usual walking speed, body composition, and SARC-F score. Participants were classified into maintenance, deterioration, and improvement groups according to the changes in their LTCI certification levels. We identified factors contributing to the deterioration of LTCI certification levels using baseline and before and after comparisons, multivariate analyses, and receiver operating characteristic analyses. No significant differences were observed in the baseline data among the groups. Only the deterioration group showed significant changes in the usual walking speed (baseline: 0.64±0.25 m/s, follow-up: 0.53±0.21 m/s, P = 0.008) and body fat percentage (baseline: 29.2±9.9%, follow-up: 27.7±10.3%, P = 0.047). Binomial logistic regression showed that changes in usual walking speed (P = 0.042) and body fat percentage (P = 0.011) were significantly associated with the deterioration of LTCI certification levels, even after adjustment. The cutoff values of change to discriminate the deterioration of LTCI certification levels were -0.14 m/s at the usual walking speed (P = 0.047) and -1.0% for body fat percentage (P = 0.029). Decreases in usual walking speed and body fat percentage may predict worse certification levels in older adults requiring LTCI.

The relationship between depressive symptoms and physical performance in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional investigation.

The relationship between depressive symptoms and declining physical performance in postmenopausal women has been extensively examined. However, various confounding factors can influence this association. This study aimed to investigate the link between depressive symptoms and physical performance in postmenopausal women while considering potential interfering factors. In this cross-sectional study, 137 postmenopausal women were categorized into two groups based on the presence of depressive symptoms (n = 58; mean ± SD age, 60.12 ± 8.45 y) and absence of depressive symptoms (n = 79; mean ± SD age, 60.72 ± 7.45) using the Geriatric Depression Scale (short version) (GDS-15). Thoracic kyphosis angle was measured using the flexicurve method. Physical performance was assessed through various tests, including Timed Up and Go, Five Times Stand and Sit Test, 6-minute Walking Speed, 10-meter Usual Walking Speed, 10-meter Fast Walking Speed, and dynamometry. The study compared variables between the two groups and used linear regression models adjusted for dynamometry, kyphosis angle, age, antidepressant usage, sitting time, and fall history to evaluate the relationship between GDS-15 scores and physical performance. Significant differences were observed in physical performance, body mass index, kyphosis angle, antidepressant usage, sitting time, and fall history between women with and without depressive symptoms. The GDS-15 showed a negative association with all walking speed tests (10-meter Usual Walking Speed, m/s; P < 0.001; B = -0.01; 10-meter Fast Walking Speed, m/s; P < 0.001; B = -0.02; 6-minute Walking Speed, m/s; P < 0.004; B = -0.01) and a positive association with the Five Times Stand and Sit Test ( P < 0.002; B = 0.21) and Timed Up and Go ( P < 0.001; B = 0.13) tests, regardless of grip strength, kyphosis angle, age, antidepressant use, sitting time, or fall history in postmenopausal women. This study underscores the independent and substantial impact of depressive symptoms on the physical performance of postmenopausal women. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing both mental health and physical well-being when providing care and support for this demographic.

Development and assessment of a stair ascension challenge as a measure of aging and physical function in nonhuman primates.

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are valuable models for studying healthspan, including frailty development. Frailty metrics in people centers on functional measures, including usual gait speed which can be predictive of all-cause mortality. This concept that physical competencies are able to prognosticate an individual's health trajectory over chronologic aging is well-accepted and has led to refinements in how physical function is evaluated, and include measures of strength and power along with walking speed. NHP studies of aging require evaluation of physical function, which can be difficult in field and research settings. We compared stair climb velocity to usual walking speed in 28 peri-geriatric to geriatric NHPs, as incorporating a climbing obstacle integrates multiple components of physical function: isolated leg and back strength, proprioception, balance, and range of motion. We find that stair climbing speed was reliable between observers, and whether timing was in-person take from video capture. The stair climb rates were 50% more associated with chronological age than walking speed (R = -0.68 vs. -0.45) and only stair climbing speeds were retained as predictive of age when walking speed and bodyweight were included in multivariate models (overall R2 = 0.44; p < 0.0001). When comparing young (10-16 years) versus geriatric (16-29 years) stair climbing speed was significantly different (p < 0.001), while walking speeds only tended to be slower (p = 0.12) suggesting that the additional challenge of a stair climb better unmasks subclinical frailty development that usual walking speed.

Fast walking reduces the risk of breast cancer: evidence from a Mendelian randomisation study

ABSTRACT Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy that poses a serious threat to women’s health. Lifestyle modifications can alter the risk of breast cancer. Walking is a common lifestyle behaviour, but its impact on breast cancer remains unclear. We conducted a Mendelian randomisation (MR) study to explore this issue. Independent genetic variants closely associated with usual walking speed were selected as instrumental variables from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) databases. Genetic data on the estrogen receptor (ER) status of breast cancer and breast cancer were obtained from a large-scale GWAS meta-analysis. Inverse variance-weighted regression analysis revealed that brisk walking speed was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer [OR = 0.69; 95%CI = (0.54, 0.88); P = 0.006] and lower risk of ER− breast cancer [OR = 0.60; 95%CI = (0.38, 0.91); P = 0.018]. However, walking speed was not associated with the risk of ER + breast cancer [OR = 0.92; 95%CI = (0.70, 1.25); P = 0.641]. MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO tests did not reveal significant levels of pleiotropy or heterogeneity, respectively. Sensitivity analyses also confirmed the robustness of the results. Our study provides strong evidence that faster walking speeds may reduce the risk of breast cancer and that a more widespread adoption of moderate or high-intensity exercise may be effective in reducing women’s health risks.

Norms for Usual and Fast Walking Speed in Adults 45-69 Years Old From the French General Population: Constances Study

ObjectivesWalking speed (WS) represents an objective measure of motor function and health. We aimed to develop usual (UWS) and fast WS (FWS) norms for the general population using a regression-based approach, while considering age, sex, height, and education. DesignCross-sectional analysis of a population-based study. Setting and ParticipantsFrench Constances study (45-69 years). MethodsUWS/FWS were measured over 3 m (dynamic start) using photoelectric cells. We addressed selection effects (related to survey sampling and nonresponse) and missing data using a combination of inverse probability weighting (IPW) and multiple imputation (MI). Norms by sex, age, height, and education (<tertiary/≥tertiary) were estimated using a 3-level linear mixed effects model (random effects on center and year) allowing for nonlinear relations that were adjusted for age, sex, height, education, and significant 2-way interactions. ResultsAnalyses are based on 44,772 participants (51.2% women) with a mean age of 56.8 years (SE = 0.2) for women and 57.3 years (SE = 0.2) for men, and a mean height of 161.4 cm (SE = 0.1) for women and 174.2 cm (SE = 0.1) for men after IPW/MI. WS estimates decreased after IPW/MI. The mean UWS was 116.9 cm/s (SE = 0.8) in women and 120.7 cm/s (SE = 0.8) in men, and the mean FWS was 168.7 cm/s (SE = 1.0) in women and 182.8 cm/s (SE = 1.2) in men. In the multiadjusted model, UWS/FWS decreased with age and increased with height and education. Men had faster FWS than women; they had slightly slower UWS than women in the low-education group, but there were no sex differences in the high-education group. Conclusions and ImplicationsWe developed UWS/FWS norms by age, sex, height, and education for the French general population (45-69 years) that are available through a web app (https://cesp-proxy2.vjf.inserm.fr/NORMES-VM-EN/). These norms can be used to identify in midlife persons with lower motor performances than the general population, given their age, sex, height, and education, who are at higher risk of adverse outcomes.

Prediction of injurious falls in older adults using digital gait biomarkers extracted from large-scale wrist sensor data.

To determine whether digital gait biomarkers captured by a wrist-worn device can predict injurious falls in older people and to develop a multivariable injurious fall prediction model. Population-based longitudinal cohort study. Community-dwelling participants of the UK Biobank study aged 65 and older (n = 32,619) in the United Kingdom. Participants were assessed at baseline on daily-life walking speed, quality, quantity and distribution using wrist-worn accelerometers for up to 7 days. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyse the associations between these parameters and injurious falls for up to 9 years. Five percent of the participants (n = 1,627) experienced at least one fall requiring medical attention over a mean of 7.0 ± 1.1years. Daily-life walking speed, gait quality, quantity of walking and distribution of daily walking were all significantly associated with the incidence of injurious falls (P < 0.05). After adjusting for sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, handgrip strength and reaction time; running duration, total step counts and usual walking speed were identified as independent and significant predictors of falls (P < 0.01). These associations were consistent in those without a history of previous fall injuries. In contrast, step regularity was the only risk factor for those with a previous fall history after adjusting for covariates. Daily-life gait speed, quantity and quality, derived from wrist-worn sensors, are significant predictors of injurious falls in older people. These digital gait biomarkers could potentially be used to identify fall risk in screening programs and integrated into fall prevention strategies.

Relationship Between Muscle Mass and Usual Walking Speed Mediated by Muscle Strength, Respiration and Depression in Elderly Female

Relationship Between Muscle Mass and Usual Walking Speed Mediated by Muscle Strength, Respiration and Depression in Elderly Female

Inverse Association between Cheese Consumption and Lower Cognitive Function in Japanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults Based on a Cross-Sectional Study.

Diet modification may contribute to the prevention of age-related cognitive decline. The association between dairy product consumption and cognitive function in older people remains unknown. We investigated whether cheese intake is associated with lower cognitive function (LCF) in community-dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional study included 1503 adults aged over 65 years. The analyzed data were obtained through face-to-face interviews and functional ability measurement. Cognitive function was assessed using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and a score ≤23 was defined as LCF. The prevalence of LCF was 4.6%, and this group had smaller calf circumference, slower usual walking speed, and a more frequent history of anemia than subjects with MMSE scores >23. After adjusting for confounding factors, logistic regression analysis revealed cheese intake (odds ratio (OR) = 0.404, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.198-0.824), age (OR = 1.170, 95% CI = 1.089-1.256), usual walking speed (OR = 0.171, 95% CI = 0.062-0.472) and calf circumference (OR = 0.823, 95% CI = 0.747-0.908) to be significant factors associated with LCF. Although the present study was an analysis of cross-sectional data of Japanese community-dwelling older adults, the results suggest that cheese intake is inversely associated with LCF.

Association between walking speed and calcaneus stiffness index in older adults.

The aim here is to examine the association between objectively measured usual walking speed (UWS) and bone status in community-dwelling older Chinese. This is a cross-sectional study of a population of 1528 adults (817 females, mean age 68.5 ± 5.3; 711 males, mean age 69.1 ± 5.2) aged 60-79, living in communities in Shanghai. Walking speed was assessed using a 4-m walk test at a usual-pace walking speed a walking speed at which the subject felt relaxed-and bone status measured by quantitative ultrasound (QUS). The health-related characteristics of participants include family background, physical activity level, chronic disease, smoking and alcohol consumption, frequency of falls, vitamin intake, and hormone therapy. Multiple linear regression is used to analyses any association between UWS and bone status, adjusting for confounding factors showing a significant association between faster UWS and a higher calcaneal stiffness index (SI) (p < 0.01). Comparing the lowest quartile of the data set with the highest at UWS, a high SI is achieved with 5.34 (95% CI = 3.22, 7.46) (p < 0.01), after adjusting for confounders. An increase of 1dm/s was associated with a 0.91 (95% CI = 0.53, 1.29) increase in SI. This relationship for most subgroups is consistent. Our findings suggest that UWS can be a sensitive indicator of calcaneal bone loss among an older population.