May 1, 2024

Aging Strong: How Managing Heart Disease Risk Factors Benefits Physical Function

New research study released in The Journals of Gerontology suggests that managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) threat elements may help preserve physical function in older grownups. Roughly 10% of older grownups experience muscle weak point and diminished physical function, leading to negative health outcomes and special needs. The research study found that vascular steps were associated with grip strength and change in gait speed, both indicators of physical function.
Greater aortic tightness was associated with loss of physical function over ~ 11 years, stated Dr. Sahni, who is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife. The authors think that future research studies need to assess whether interventions that target vascular health might minimize age-related decreases in physical function.

” Approximately 10% of older grownups have muscle weakness and reduced physical function that causes negative health results and handicap,” said lead author Dr. Shivani Sahni. “Since loss of physical function contributes to lowered movement, institutionalization, special needs, and death, management of CVD threat factors can help protect physical function with age,” said Dr. Sahni.
This study showed that vascular procedures are connected with grip strength in cross-sectional analyses and change in gait speed (a procedure of physical function) in longitudinal analyses.
This is one of the first community-based research studies to thoroughly take a look at relations of aortic tightness and vascular function with age-related decline in physical function. Greater aortic tightness was associated with loss of physical function over ~ 11 years, stated Dr. Sahni, who is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife. She directs the Nutrition Program at the Marcus Institute.
Blood circulation declines with aging, in part due to arterial stiffening. Ensuing dysfunction in capillary characteristics might contribute to organ pathology and declines in muscle mass, explains Dr. Sahni. Few research studies have actually particularly evaluated the function of vascular function, and changes in practical muscle measures such as movement and muscle strength.
The current study used information from a big friend of reasonably healthy males and females and extends previous investigations by utilizing a longitudinal research study style.
The majority of previously released research studies have used cross-sectional research study styles with modest sample sizes. The authors think that future studies need to examine whether interventions that target vascular health might reduce age-related declines in physical function. This is essential because one-third of older grownups experience physical constraints adding to reduced movement, institutionalization, death, and impairment. For this reason, there is a requirement for development of unique interventions that target prevention of physical restrictions in older grownups.
Recommendation: “Association of Vascular Health Measures and Physical Function: A Prospective Analysis in the Framingham Heart Study” by Shivani Sahni, PhD, Alyssa B Dufour, PhD, Na Wang, PhD, Douglas P Kiel, MD, MPH, Marian T Hannan, DSc, MPH, Paul F Jacques, DSc, Emelia J Benjamin, MD, ScM, Ramachandran S Vasan, MD, Joanne M Murabito, MD, ScM, Anne B Newman, MD, MPH, Roger A Fielding, PhD, Gary F Mitchell, MD and Naomi M Hamburg, MD, 15 May 2023, The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.DOI: 10.1093/ gerona/glad097.
Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute of Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; 2Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA; 3Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA; 4Boston Medical Center and Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Boston, MA; 5Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA; 6Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; 7Cardiovascular Engineering, Inc., Norwood, MA.
This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (grant numbers R01 AG051728; R01 AR53205; and R01 AR41398); the Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes Framingham Heart Study (contract number HHSN268201500001I; N01-HC-25195; 75N92019D00031; and 1R01 HL60040); the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Grants in Aid Program (GAP) Award.
Dr. Sahni is supported partly by the Boston Claude D. Pepper Center Older American Independence Centers (OAIC; 1P30AG031679) and Peter and Barbara Sidel Fund. Dr. Newman is supported by National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging (grant number U01 HL130114); CHS Research Resources for the Cardiovascular Health of Adults; and Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center (grant number P30 AG024827). Dr. Vasan is supported in part by research study grants R01HL142983; R01HL126136; R01HL070279 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the Evans Medical Foundation and the Jay and Louis Coffman Endowment from the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine.

By Hebrew SeniorLife, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
May 14, 2023

New research study released in The Journals of Gerontology recommends that handling cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk elements might help maintain physical function in older adults. Roughly 10% of older grownups experience muscle weakness and reduced physical function, causing adverse health outcomes and disability. The study found that vascular procedures were related to grip strength and change in gait speed, both signs of physical function.
Research study takes a look at relationship of aortic tightness, vascular function with age-related physical decrease.
A current study published in The Journals of Gerontology reveals that handling cardiovascular disease danger elements might assist maintain physical function in older adults. The research study, which made use of a longitudinal research study design, found that vascular steps were related to grip strength and modification in gait speed, suggesting that targeting vascular health might lower age-related decreases in physical function, mobility, and impairment.
Managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) threat factors may play a role in protecting physical function during the aging procedure, according to brand-new research study released today by The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.