Experimental gerontology
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Experimental gerontology · Nov 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficiency of twice weekly concurrent training in trained elderly men.
This study compared the effects of different weekly training frequencies on the cardiovascular and neuromuscular adaptations induced by concurrent training in previously trained elderly. After 20weeks of combined strength and endurance training, twenty-four healthy elderly men (65±4 years) were randomly placed into two frequency training groups: strength and endurance training performed twice a week (SE2, n=12); or, strength and endurance training performed three times per week (SE3, n=12). The interventions lasted 10 weeks and each group performed identical exercise intensity and volume per session. ⋯ There were no changes after training in maximal EMG and isometric peak torque. W(max) was improved only in SE3. After 10 weeks of training, twice weekly combined strength and endurance training leads to similar neuromuscular and cardiovascular adaptations as three times per week, demonstrating the efficiency of lower frequency of concurrent training in previously trained elderly men.
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Experimental gerontology · Nov 2013
Neuromechanical properties of the triceps surae in young and older adults.
The aim of this study was to compare voluntary and involuntary force generating capacity of the triceps surae muscles in healthy young and older adult participants during isometric and isokinetic contractions. Ultrasound was used to measure medial gastrocnemius (MG) fascicle length during maximal voluntary isometric contractions and supra-maximal isometric twitch contractions at five ankle angles throughout the available range of motion, as well as isokinetic concentric and eccentric contractions at four ankle velocities. Maximum voluntary activation of the plantar flexors was assessed using the twitch interpolation technique. ⋯ These age-related differences in torque were not explained by torque-length-velocity behaviour of the MG muscle fascicles, passive plantar flexor torque-angle properties, decreased neural drive of the plantar flexor muscles or antagonistic co-activation of the tibialis anterior muscle. The residual deficit in isometric and concentric plantar flexor torques in healthy older adults may involve reduced muscle quality. A significant reduction in supra-maximal twitch torque at longer MG fascicle lengths as well as a lower MG fascicle velocity during eccentric contractions in older adults was detected, which could possibly be a function of the reported increased Achilles tendon compliance in older adults.
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Elderly patients may experience impairments in cognition or mood following surgery. To study the development and underlying mechanisms of these postoperative behavioral changes, young (3 months) and aged (18-20 months) male rats were subjected to abdominal surgery followed by behavioral testing during a period of 6 weeks. Microglia activation (IBA-1) and neurogenesis (DCX) were immunohistochemically determined. ⋯ However, aged rats displayed long-term changes in affective behavior and had increased microgliosis in the CA1 hippocampal region following surgery. Microglia activation following surgery was positively correlated to parameters of behavior and spatial learning. These findings support the hypothesis that elderly patients have an increased behavioral and (neuro)inflammatory response to surgery and these factors may be related.