Physical activity level in people with age related white matter changes correlates to better motor performance, lower comorbidity and higher cognitive level

Cross-sectional interactive associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with physical capacity across adulthood

BACKGROUND

The way physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) independently and interactively modify the age-related decline in physical capacity remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional study investigated the independent and interactive associations of PA and SB with physical function and performance throughout the adult life course.

METHODS

Data from 499 community-dwelling adults (63% female) aged 20-92 years, involved in the INSPIRE Human Translational Cohort, were used in this cross-sectional study. Daily time spent on moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, min/day) and SB (h/day) was measured with activPAL triaxial accelerometers. Physical function and performance were assessed through the measurement of the 4-m usual gait speed (m/s), handgrip strength (kg), lower-limb strength (isokinetic knee extension torque, N·m), estimated lower-limb power (five-time chair-rise test performance, s) and cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O2max, mL/kg/min). Confounder-adjusted multiple linear and curvilinear regressions were performed to investigate how MVPA, SB and their interactions were associated with the physical outcomes (all square root-transformed except gait speed) throughout the adulthood spectrum.

RESULTS

Interaction analyses revealed that the combination of higher levels of MVPA with lower levels of SB favourably reshaped the negative relationship between handgrip strength and age (age2 × SB × MVPA: B = -7E-08, SE = 3E-08, P < 0.05). In addition, higher levels of MVPA were independently associated with an improved age-related profile in gait speed (age2 × MVPA: B = 3E-06, SE = 1E-06, P < 0.05), chair-rise performance (age × MVPA: B = -9E-05, SE = 4E-05, P < 0.05) and V̇O2max (MVPA at 21 years: B = 3E-02, SE = 7E-03, P < 0.05; age × MVPA: B = -5E-04, SE = 2E-04, P < 0.05). Conversely, the detrimental association of age with lower-limb muscle strength (age × SB: B = -1E-04, SE = 6E-05, P < 0.05) and chair-rise performance (age × SB: B = 1E-05, SE = 7E-06, P < 0.05) was exacerbated with increasing duration of SB, independently of MVPA. Supplementary analyses further revealed that some of these associations were age and sex specific.

CONCLUSIONS

This cross-sectional study demonstrated that reduced sedentary time and increased activity duration were independently and synergistically associated with an attenuated age-related loss in physical capacity. These findings need to be confirmed with longitudinal data but encourage both adopting an active lifestyle and reducing sedentary time as preventive measures against physical aging.

Effects of Attitude, Motivation, and Eagerness for Physical Activity among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Background

Although physical activity (PA) is a noninvasive and cost-effective method of improving the quality of health, global statistics show that only a few middle-aged and older adults engage in the recommended PAs. This is due to a lack of motivation and companionship.

Objective

This study analyses the attitudes and self-determined motivation of Chinese middle-aged and older adults for PAs and their eagerness to participate in PAs such as sports, exercise, and recreational and cultural activities (RCAs), from attitudinal, eagerness, and motivational objectives of PAs perspective.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 840 middle-aged (35-54 years) and older adults (55+ years). To determine their attitude, eagerness, and self-determined motivation for PA, we used attitudinal, Eagerness for Physical Activity Scale (EPAS), and Situational Motivational Scale (SIMS). The data were analyzed with SPSS 23.0.

Results

The results show that 39.1% of the participants were not satisfied with PAs. Compared with females, males reported a less positive attitude towards PAs. Moreover, a positive attitude decreases with age. Participants' motivation and eagerness in activities such as RCAs, exercise, and sports are decreasing. Regarding self-determined motivation, there are gender differences in RCAs, but there is none for exercise and sports participation.

Conclusion

The findings show the importance of RCAs and the support of family and friends enhancing the eagerness, attitude, and motivation to participate in PAs. Furthermore, the findings can help to create more effective PA programs for middle-aged and older adults. By engaging in RCAs, participants can reap the benefits of PAs. Participating in RCAs can lead to social equity in health.

Validity, reliability, and feasibility of the uSense activity monitor to register physical activity and gait performance in habitual settings of geriatric patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the psychometric quality of a newly developed activity monitor (uSense) to document established physical activity parameters as well as innovative qualitative and quantitative gait characteristics in geriatric patients.

APPROACH

Construct and concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, and feasibility of established as well as innovative characteristics for qualitative gait analysis were analyzed in multi-morbid, geriatric patients with cognitive impairment (CI) (n  =  110), recently discharged from geriatric rehabilitation.

MAIN RESULTS

Spearman correlations of established and innovative uSense parameters reflecting active behavior with clinically relevant construct parameters were on average moderate to high for motor performance and life-space and low to moderate for other parameters, while correlations with uSense parameters reflecting inactive behavior were predominantly low. Concurrent validity of established physical activity parameters showed consistently high correlations between the uSense and an established comparator system (PAMSys^™), but the absolute agreement between both sensor systems was low. On average excellent test-retest reliability for all uSense parameters and good feasibility could be documented.

SIGNIFICANCE

The uSense monitor allows the assessment of established and-for the first time-a semi-qualitative gait assessment of habitual activity behavior in older persons most affected by motor and CI and activity restrictions. On average moderate to good construct validity, high test-retest reliability, and good feasibility indicated a sound psychometric quality of most measures, while the results of concurrent validity as measured by a comparable system indicated high correlation but low absolute agreement based on different algorithms used.

Longitudinal Changes in Muscle Mass and Strength, and Bone Mass in Older Adults: Gender-Specific Associations Between Muscle and Bone Losses

Background

The aims of this study were to investigate the longitudinal changes in muscle and bone with aging, and to clarify the muscle-bone relationships.

Methods

In a community-based prospective study, a total of 172 men and 165 women aged ≥ 65 years who had performed body composition analysis and bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 5-year follow-up evaluations were included.

Results

The rate of BMD loss in total hip was significantly associated with baseline legs lean mass and loss rate of leg strength, but not with the rate of muscle mass losses in men (r = .205 in leg lean mass, r = .170 in loss rate of leg muscle strength, p < .05 respectively). However, in women, it was significantly correlated with the rate of leg lean mass loss, but not with baseline values, and the rate of loss in leg muscle strength (r = .169 in the rate of loss in leg lean mass, r = .246 in the rate of loss in leg muscle strength, p < .05 respectively). In multivariate analyses, the rates of decrease in leg muscle strength showed independent positive associations with loss in total hip BMD in both men and women (β = 0.023 for men and β = 0.045 for women, both p < .05 respectively).

Conclusion

There was a gender difference in muscle and bone mass changes with aging, and muscle-bone interactions as well. However, a longitudinal change in muscle strength was the most significant independent factor associated with bone loss for both genders.

Artificial Neural Networks Help to Better Understand the Interplay Between Cognition, Mediterranean Diet, and Physical Performance: Clues from TRELONG Study

BACKGROUND

Nutrition plays an important role in the aging process. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been shown to be associated with lower rates of diseases. Cognitive status seems to be strongly interrelated with physical well-being, so that one influences the other. Physical performance measures are not only associated with clinical and subclinical age-related modifications, but are also able to predict disability, institutionalization, and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate prospectively the associations between Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS), clinical characteristics, and cognition of the population sample of The TREVISO LONGEVA (TRELONG) Study, in Treviso, Italy.

METHODS

Global cognition, physical performance measures, MSDPS, and other clinical features were detected in 2010 in 82 men and 108 women. These characteristics were evaluated in relation to the physical performance measures identified 3.8 years later in 2013 in the same subjects, using a semantic connectivity map, through Auto-CM system, to grasp further and non-linear associations between variables which might remain, otherwise, undetected.

RESULTS

The Auto-CM system's map showed a close association between better levels of global cognition and MSDPS in 2010 and higher physical performance in 2013. On the other hand, worse levels of global cognition and MSDPS in 2010 were associated with lower physical performance in 2013.

CONCLUSION

The prevention models for successful aging may benefit from integrated programs that include cognitive, physical, and dietary interventions, since these aspects are mutually interrelated.

Dance for neuroplasticity: A descriptive systematic review

We conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials to investigate whether dance practice promotes neuroplasticity. We also determined how dancing is able to alter (1) brain volumes and structures (2) brain function, (3) psychomotor adjustment and (4) levels of neurotrophic factors. This systematic review formulated a research question based on PICO, according to the guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyzes (PRISMA), "What is the influence of dance practice on neuroplasticity in already mature brains?" We screened 1071 studies and from these eight studies were included in the review. Of the selected studies, all demonstrated positive structural and/or functional changes. Structural changes included increased hippocampal volume, gray matter volume in the left precentral and parahippocampal gyrus, and white matter integrity. Functional changes included alterations in cognitive function such as significant improvement in memory, attention, body balance, psychosocial parameters and altered peripheral neurotrophic factor. Based on the evidence, dance practice integrates brain areas to improve neuroplasticity.