The relative utility of health-related fitness tests and skilled motor performance tests as measures of biological age in Japanese men

Human age reversal: Fact or fiction?

Although chronological age correlates with various age‐related diseases and conditions, it does not adequately reflect an individual's functional capacity, well‐being, or mortality risk. In contrast, biological age provides information about overall health and indicates how rapidly or slowly a person is aging. Estimates of biological age are thought to be provided by aging clocks, which are computational models (e.g., elastic net) that use a set of inputs (e.g., DNA methylation sites) to make a prediction. In the past decade, aging clock studies have shown that several age‐related diseases, social variables, and mental health conditions associate with an increase in predicted biological age relative to chronological age. This phenomenon of age acceleration is linked to a higher risk of premature mortality. More recent research has demonstrated that predicted biological age is sensitive to specific interventions. Human trials have reported that caloric restriction, a plant‐based diet, lifestyle changes involving exercise, a drug regime including metformin, and vitamin D3 supplementation are all capable of slowing down or reversing an aging clock. Non‐interventional studies have connected high‐quality sleep, physical activity, a healthy diet, and other factors to age deceleration. Specific molecules have been associated with the reduction or reversal of predicted biological age, such as the antihypertensive drug doxazosin or the metabolite alpha‐ketoglutarate. Although rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate these initial findings, existing data suggest that aging clocks are malleable in humans. Additional research is warranted to better understand these computational models and the clinical significance of lowering or reversing their outputs.

Adapting Fitness Age Calculations to Suit a Modern North American Female Population, Regardless of Age, Race, or Ability Level

Objectives: Fitness Age (FA) has been reported in Japan and South Korea as one way to assess an individual’s overall health. To date, this method has not been used in North America. The objective of the current study was to assess the applicability of existing Fitness Age calculations for North American women. Methods: Thirty-seven North American working women aged 18 to 67 years completed a fitness test battery, as described by previous studies. The fitness test results were used with published regression equations to estimate each woman’s FA which was subsequently adjusted to correct for biases in the data. Results: The data from the fitness tests were similar to those presented in the previously published literature with the exception of grip strength, trunk flexion, and body fat percentage which differed significantly compared to the populations assessed previously. These population differences appear to have impacted the applicability of the published methods for this population. Discussion: Because the FA estimates must be corrected according to a theoretical “ideal” to address population biases before they can be used, the authors propose using the deviation from this theoretical ideal rather than raw FA in future aging studies, as this is where the interesting inter-personal differences lay.

Functional capacities of Polish adults of 60-87 years and risk of losing functional independence

AIM

To characterise the functional capacities of Polish men and women aged 60-87 years and evaluate their status relative to criteria for functional independence.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Four hundred and thirty-one women and 125 men, aged 60-87 years, who were residents of Wrocław, southwestern Poland, were recruited. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. The Fullerton Functional Fitness Test was administered to test upper and lower body strength, upper and lower body flexibility, agility-dynamic balance and aerobic endurance. The Paffenbarger physical activity questionnaire was completed. Characteristics of individuals classified by the number of tests which equalled or exceeded criterion-referenced standards for functional independence (excluding flexibility) were compared.

RESULTS

Polish older adults compared favourably to American reference values. Percentages meeting the criteria for all four, for two or three and for one or no tests were, respectively, 21%, 54% and 25% in women and 37%, 45% and 18% in men. Adults meeting the criteria for all four tests were lighter, with a lower BMI and more physically active than those meeting the criteria on two or three tests and on one or no tests.

CONCLUSION

The majority of Polish older adults were not at risk for loss of physical independence. The most functionally independent adults of both sexes had a lower BMI and less obesity, and were physically more active; the converse was true for those not meeting the criteria.

Development and application of biological age prediction models with physical fitness and physiological components in Korean adults

BACKGROUND

Several biological age (BA) prediction models have been suggested with a variety of biomarkers. Valid models should be able to measure BA in a relatively short time period and predict subsequent physiological capability. Physiological and physical fitness variables have been shown to be distinctive markers for predicting BA and morbidity. The practical and noninvasive nature of such variables makes them useful as clinical assessment tools in estimating BA for in-depth diagnosis and corresponding intervention.

OBJECTIVE

To identify, develop and evaluate biomarkers and BA prediction models and validate their clinical usefulness for the practical diagnosis of functional aging.

METHODS

Fourteen variables were measured in 3,112 male and 1,233 female participants aged 30 and older between the years 2004 and 2007. Through a series of parsimonious stepwise elimination processes, two sets of 8 gender-specific variables were selected as candidate biomarkers for 1,604 men and 760 women. Principal component analysis, linear regression analysis and adjustment methods were further applied to obtain two sets of true BA (TBA) prediction models. The TBA models were examined for validity by comparing TBA to the corresponding chronological age (CA) with clinical risk factors.

RESULTS

TBA prediction models with r(2) values of 0.638 and 0.672 were developed, each unique to men and women, respectively. The overall mean TBA and CA of the participants were 53.9 and 51.8 years, respectively, with a marginal difference of -2.1 and -1.3 years. The regression slopes or rates of TBA as a function of CA were 1.00 and 1.28 for men and women with r values of 0.799 and 0.820 (p < 0.001), respectively. In comparing TBA to CA rates between healthy and clinical risk groups, both sarcopenic and obese groups showed significant increases in TBA.

CONCLUSIONS

The selected biomarkers encompass various complex physiopathological factors related to intrinsic and extrinsic physiological and functional aging. The BA prediction models based on the selected biomarkers could be practical in assessing BA for Korean adults.

Daily walking reduces visceral adipose tissue areas and improves insulin resistance in Japanese obese subjects

OBJECTIVE

It is known that the accumulation of abdominal fat is one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis. Although exercise is commonly prescribed to reduce body weight, the efficacy of low intensity exercise for the reduction of abdominal visceral adipose tissue remains to be investigated.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Thirty one obese Japanese males (body mass index (BMI) > or = 25) ranging in age from 32 to 59, participated in a 1-year follow up study and they were instructed to have a modest increase in daily activity and record their daily walking. Before and after exercise prescription, body composition, blood pressure, physical fitness i.e. aerobic exercise level, muscle strength and flexibility were recorded. Insulin resistance was evaluated using a homeostasis model assessment, the HOMA index.

RESULTS

HOMA index, parameters of body composition, blood pressure, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol were significantly improved. The aerobic exercise level, leg strength, weight-bearing index (leg strength/body weight) and the steps taken per day were significantly increased. By stepwise multiple regression analysis, Delta visceral adipose tissue area was the major determinant for Delta HOMA index. (Delta HOMA index=-0.386+0.016 Delta visceral adipose tissue area, r2=0.267, P<0.01). Exercise capacity and calorie intake were not significantly related to Delta visceral adipose tissue area, while Delta steps per day was significantly correlated with Delta visceral adipose tissue area (Delta visceral adipose tissue area=-21.363-0.004 Delta steps per day, r2=0.184, P=0.0326).

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, intra-abdominal visceral adipose tissue is critically involved in insulin resistance and daily walking rather than improvement of exercise capacity correlated with the reduction of visceral adipose tissue in obese Japanese males.

Accuracy of two simple methods for the assessment of health-related physical fitness

We have developed a useful equation for estimating health-related physical fitness age. This version of health-related fitness age was developed as an extension of the biological age index and is useful for evaluation of individual differences in functional abilities of middle-aged and older adults. This measure consists of 4 independent variables fitness (VO2 max, standing trunk flexibility, %fat, and grip strength). However, direct measurement of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) is an invasive clinical procedure and not practical for large scale work. In the current study, we attempted to assess the fitness age more feasibly. We selected a questionnaire method and a 12-min. submaximal treadmill walk test as substitutes for the VO2 max test. The three fitness ages were computed for 23 Japanese men (M(age) 54.7 +/- 10.7 yr.), using actual VO2 max (actual fitness age), questionnaire VO2 max (predicted questionnaire fitness age), and treadmill VO2 max (predicted treadmill fitness age). Predicted questionnaire fitness age (61.0 +/- 10.5 yr.) and predicted treadmill fitness age (60.0 +/- 12.4 yr.) were significantly correlated with actual fitness age (60.1 +/- 12.4 yr.) (r= .96 and .97, respectively). There were no significant differences among the three indices, but there was a significant difference between actual fitness age and chronological age (p<.05). For VO+/-2 max substituting the questionnaire for the treadmill estimate is acceptable in assessing fitness age and reducing the clinical risk for middle-aged and older Japanese men.

Proposta de um instrumento para avaliação da autonomia do idoso: o Sistema Sênior de Avaliação da Autonomia de Ação (SysSen)

O texto descreve uma nova técnica de avaliação da autonomia do idoso, o Sistema Sênior de Avaliação da Autonomia de Ação(SysSen), bem como as estratégias adotadas para sua validação. O sistema é formado por um questionário de atividades físicas (Questionário Sênior de Atividades Físicas - QSAP) e de um teste de campo (Teste Sênior de 'Caminhar e Transportar' - TSMP). O QSAP visa quantificar as necessidades dos idosos para uma vida autônoma, em termos de força de membros superiores (FO) e de capacidade cardiorrespiratória (PA), através de uma entrevista em quatro partes. A primeira considera as atividades cotidianas no domicílio, profissionais e de tempo livre. A segunda avalia o contexto ambiental. A terceira aprecia as dificuldades para tarefas cotidianas e os sentimentos quanto às atividades que se gostaria de fazer e/ou retomar. A quarta considera o ponto de vista do entrevistador sobre as informações recolhidas. Obtém-se um índice para o conjunto das necessidades reveladas pelas partes do questionário (Índice de Autonomia Exprimida - IAE). No TSMP o indivíduo marcha 800m de forma acelerada, transportando pesos específicos segundo o sexo. Calcula-se um índice representativo do potencial de realização das tarefas que dependem da interação funcional da FO e PA (Índice de Autonomia Potencial - IAP). Cruzando as informações obtidas, estabelece-se uma razão autonomia potencial/exprimida (IAP/IAE) - Índice Sênior da Autonomia de Ação (ISAC). A pertinência do SysSen foi verificada por meio da comparação com outros instrumentos de avaliação e pela observação da coerência interna e estrutural dos índices obtidos (validade de estrutura, conteúdo e critério). A fidedignidade inter e intraclasse foi investigada através de teste-reteste. A estabilidade das equações de regressão dos índices IAE e IAP foi testada por validação cruzada. Os resultados indicam que os instrumentos que compõem o SysSen são válidos e suas equações, estáveis. A comparação com outras técnicas de avaliação revela que o SysSen pode ser útil no estudo da autonomia funcional sob uma perspectiva positiva, fato raro quando se trata de instrumentos de avaliação gerontológica.

The accelerated occurrence of age-related changes of organism in Chernobyl workers: a radiation-induced progeroid syndrome?

The rate of aging was studied in 306 persons working at Chernobyl Atomic Power Station after the accident by means of integral and partial biological age assessment. An accelerated rate of aging was found in 81% of men and in 77% of women in comparison with a control random population sample of Kiev. Persons younger than 45 years appeared to be more vulnerable to radiation. The biological age of persons who worked in the contaminated zone immediately after the disaster exceeded the biological age in those who arrived in Chernobyl 4 months later. The biological age in the investigated persons exceeded its average populational value for 5 years (the integral biological and partial cardiopulmonary age) and for 11 years for the partial psychological age. These data may underlie the concept of radiation progeroid syndrome as the form of accelerated aging.

Descrição e construção do questionário senior de atividades físicas para idosos (QSAP)

A avaliação da autonomia do idoso focaliza-se habitualmente nas atividades desempenhadas ou na aptitude funcional. Raros são os instrumentos que levam em conta ambos os aspectos. Este estudo descreve o desenvolvimento de uma das partes de um sistema de avaliação que tenta cobrir esta lacuna _ o Questionário Senior de Atividades Físicas (QSAP). Trata-se de uma entrevista em quatro partes, quantificando as necessidades para uma vida autônoma em termos de força (FO) e de produção de energia para o trabalho (PA). A Parte I considera as atividades cotidianas no domicílio, profissionais e de tempo livre. A Parte II avalia o contexto de vida do entrevistado. A Parte III aprecia as dificuldades para tarefas cotidianas e os sentimentos quanto às atividades que se gostaria de fazer. A Parte IV considera o ponto de vista do entrevistador. Obtêm-se para cada parte dois índices parciais _ TOT (FO) e TOT (PA). Os índices gerais são três: ITOT (FO), ITOT (PA) e IAE. Aplicaram-se 164 questionários a belgas de 60 a 90 anos (X = 69,9 ± 7,12). Determinou-se o IAE por: a) análise de componentes principais para os índices TOT; b) cálculo dos escores fatoriais referentes ao primeiro fator; c) regressão múltipla entre os escores fatoriais e os ITOT; d) transformação dos resultados da regressão em unidades correspondentes à idade cronológica. Testaram-se a representatividade e a estabilidade do IAE por: a) comparação aos resultados parciais do questionário; b) comparação com a idade cronológica; c) validação cruzada para 20 indivíduos (X = 67,40 ± 5,39 anos). Resultados: a) o IAE representa bem o conjunto das questões do QSAP; b) as necessidades para uma vida autônoma, traduzidas pelo IAE, guardam correlação inversa moderada com a idade; c) a equação de regressão parece ser estável. Conclui-se que o QSAP como um todo _ e o IAE especificamente _ têm boa validade de conteúdo. Recomenda-se, contudo, a verificação posterior da pertinência e da reprodutibilidade do método, antes da generalização de sua aplicação.