Dataset Information

Grip Strength Decline and Its Determinants in the Very Old: Longitudinal Findings from the Newcastle 85+ Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Weak grip strength (GS) is a key component of sarcopenia and frailty and a powerful predictor of mortality, morbidity and disability. Despite increasing interest in understanding GS across the lifespan, little is known about GS decline in the very old (aged ?85). We examined trajectories of GS in very old adults and identified the determinants.

Methods

GS (kg) was measured four times over 5 years in 319 men and 526 women participating in the Newcastle 85+ Study. A weak GS sub-cohort was identified as having strength of ?27 kg (men), and ?16 kg (women) at baseline and follow-up. Mixed models were used to establish trajectories of GS and associated factors in all participants, men and women, and in those with weak GS.

Results

Men's mean grip strength was 24.42 (SD = 6.77) kg, and women's 13.23 (4.42) kg (p<0.001) at baseline, with mean absolute change of -5.27 (4.90) kg and -3.14 (3.41), respectively (p<0.001) by 5-year follow-up. In the time-only mixed model, men experienced linear annual decline in GS of -1.13 (0.8) kg (? (SE), p<0.001), whilst women's decline although slower, accelerated by -0.06 (0.02) kg (p = 0.01) over time. In the saturated model, higher baseline physical activity, height, fat-free mass, better self-rated health, and not having arthritis in hand(s) were associated with stronger GS initially in both sexes. Annual GS decline in men and participants with weak GS who were highly physically active was slower by 0.95 and 0.52 kg, respectively compared with inactive counterparts.

Conclusion

Grip strength decline in the very old followed linear (men) and curvilinear (women) trends. High levels of physical activity were protective of GS loss in men (but not in women) and in those with weak GS. Thus maintaining muscle strength in later life is important to reduce the morbidity and mortality in the very old.

SUBMITTER: Granic A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5026378 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Grip Strength Decline and Its Determinants in the Very Old: Longitudinal Findings from the Newcastle 85+ Study.

Granic Antoneta A Davies Karen K Jagger Carol C Kirkwood Thomas B L TB Syddall Holly E HE Sayer Avan A AA

PloS one 20160916 9

<h4>Background</h4>Weak grip strength (GS) is a key component of sarcopenia and frailty and a powerful predictor of mortality, morbidity and disability. Despite increasing interest in understanding GS across the lifespan, little is known about GS decline in the very old (aged ≥85). We examined trajectories of GS in very old adults and identified the determinants.<h4>Methods</h4>GS (kg) was measured four times over 5 years in 319 men and 526 women participating in the Newcastle 85+ Study. A weak ...[more]

PMID: 27637107

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectivesAlthough the biological rationale for the association between folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine with cognitive function seems plausible, conflicting results have been reported. This study aimed to determine the associations between 1-carbon (1-C) metabolism biomarkers (folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine), and cognitive impairment at baseline and the rate of cognitive decline over 5 years in the very old.DesignThe Newcastle 85+ Study was a prospective longitudinal study of people 85 years old and followed over 5 years in Northeast England.SettingCommunity-dwelling and institutionalized.ParticipantsThe analytical sample included 765 very old participants with 1-C metabolism biomarkers and cognitive measures.MeasurementsGlobal cognition was measured by the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) at baseline, and at 3 and 5 years of follow-up and, attention-specific cognition with the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) System at baseline, and at 1.5 and 3.0 years of follow-up. Baseline red blood cell folate (RBC folate), plasma vitamin B12, and total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations were determined by immunoassay. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the associations between quartiles of 1-C metabolism biomarkers and cognition over 3 (CDR) and 5 years (SMMSE).ResultsCompared with participants in the lowest quartile of RBC folate concentrations (<612 nmol/L), those in the highest quartile of RBC folate concentrations (>1280 nmol/L) had 1 more point on the SMMSE at baseline (β = +1.02, SE = 0.43, P = .02). Those in quartile 4 of tHcy (>21.4 μmol/L) had 1 point less in the SMMSE at baseline than those in the lowest quartile (<13.5 μmol/L) (β = -1.05, SE = 0.46, P = .02). Plasma vitamin B12 was not predictive of global or attention-specific cognition at baseline and at follow-up. None of the 1-C metabolism biomarkers except tHcy was associated with the rate of decline in attention scores over 3 years.ConclusionRBC folate and tHcy, but not plasma vitamin B12, were associated with better global cognition in the very old at baseline but were not predictive of rate of decline over 5 years.

Project description:BackgroundLow protein intake has been linked to reduced muscle strength and physical performance in older adults but little is known about how it may affect muscle health and subsequent functional decline in the very old (aged 85+), who are at enhanced risk of malnutrition and loss of muscle mass and strength.AimsTo investigate the associations between low protein intake, defined as the intake of <1 g protein/kg adjusted body weight/day (<1 g/kg aBW/d) and decline in muscle strength and physical performance in the very old.MethodsThe analytic sample consisted of 722 community-dwelling participants (60% women) from the Newcastle 85+ Study who had protein intake at baseline. Participants were followed-up for change in grip strength (GS) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test over 5 years (baseline, 18, 36, and 60 months). We used mixed models to determine the effects of low protein intake on muscle strength and physical performance in all participants, and also stratified by sex.ResultsAt baseline, 390 (54%) participants (261 women, p < 0.001) reported low protein intake, and these differed from participants with good intake (≥1 g/kg aBW/d) on several measures of health and function. In the model adjusted for protein intake, consuming <1 g/kg aBW/d of protein was associated with a 1.62 kg lower GS (p = 0.008) in all participants, and especially in women (β (SE) = -0.83 (0.41), p = 0.05) after adjusting for key baseline covariates (anthropometry, multimorbidity, arthritis in hands, cognitive status and physical activity). The rate of decline in GS over 5 years was not associated with protein intake. Women, but not men, with low protein intake had worse baseline TUG (β (SE) = 0.04 (0.02), p = 0.03) compared with those with good protein intake in the fully adjusted model, but the rate of decline in TUG was not affected by daily protein status.ConclusionsIntake of <1 g protein/kg aBW/d may negatively affect muscle strength and physical performance in late life, especially in older women, independently of important covariates. More research is needed in the very old to define the optimal protein intake for maintenance of muscle health and function.

Dataset Information

Grip Strength Decline and Its Determinants in the Very Old: Longitudinal Findings from the Newcastle 85+ Study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Grip Strength Decline and Its Determinants in the Very Old: Longitudinal Findings from the Newcastle 85+ Study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets