Experimental gerontology
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Experimental gerontology · Dec 2016
Vector bioimpedance detects situations of malnutrition not identified by the indicators commonly used in geriatric nutritional assessment: A pilot study.
To compare body composition as assessed by conventional and vector bioelectrical impedance analysis according to the nutritional cataloging using body mass index (BMI) in a group of institutionalized elderly. ⋯ Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) detects body compartment changes in institutionalized elderly that are not identified by the most widely used clinical practice nutritional indicators, such as BMI, waist circumference, and BIA-estimated body composition.
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Experimental gerontology · Sep 2016
Review Meta AnalysisIs pain sensitivity altered in people with Alzheimer's disease? A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental pain research.
Clinical studies suggest people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have altered pain sensitivity. Experimental pain research is equivocal. ⋯ People with AD have a greater sensitivity to pain when validated observer ratings of facial expressions are used. Verbal response to painful stimuli, even under experimental conditions, may mean pain is not identified in people with AD. Clinically useful observer rated pain tools may be the most appropriate way to assess pain in AD.
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Experimental gerontology · Sep 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialNovel all-extremity high-intensity interval training improves aerobic fitness, cardiac function and insulin resistance in healthy older adults.
Aging is associated with decreased aerobic fitness and cardiac remodeling leading to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the treadmill has been reported to be more effective in ameliorating these risk factors compared with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in patients with cardiometabolic disease. In older adults, however, weight-bearing activities are frequently limited due to musculoskeletal and balance problems. ⋯ Diastolic function, body composition, glucose and lipids were unaffected (P≥0.1). In conclusion, all-extremity HIIT is feasible and safe in older adults. HIIT, but not MICT, improved aerobic fitness, ejection fraction, and insulin resistance.
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Experimental gerontology · Jun 2016
Comparative StudyReduced levels of cytosolic DNA sensor AIM2 are associated with impaired cytokine responses in healthy elderly.
Human aging is associated with remodeling of the immune system. While most studies on immunosenescence have focused on adaptive immunity, the effects of aging on innate immunity are not well understood. Here, we investigated whether aging affects cytokine responses to a wide range of well-defined pattern recognition receptor (PRR) ligands, such as ligands for Toll-like receptors (TLRs), C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs), retinoic-acid-inducible gene-I like receptors (RLRs) and the cytosolic DNA sensor absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2). ⋯ Our findings reveal an age-dependent reduction of AIM2 expression and activation which may explain reduced cytokine responses to the cytosolic DNA mimic poly(dA:dT) in healthy elderly individuals. Reduced AIM2-mediated sensing with age may contribute to increased vulnerability to bacterial or viral infections in the elderly.
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Experimental gerontology · Feb 2016
Comparative StudyTime-dependent neuromuscular parameters in the plantar flexors support greater fatigability of old compared with younger males.
Older adults are more fatigable than young during dynamic tasks, especially those that involve moderate to fast unconstrained velocity shortening contractions. Rate of torque development (RTD), rate of velocity development (RVD) and rate of neuromuscular activation are time-dependent neuromuscular parameters which have not been explored in relation to age-related differences in fatigability. The purpose was to determine whether these time-dependent measures affect the greater age-related fatigability in peak power during moderately fast and maximal effort shortening plantar flexions. ⋯ All parameters were correlated strongly with the fatigue-related reduction in peak power (r = 0.81-0.94, p < 0.05), except for MG and soleus rates of neuromuscular activation (r = 0.25-0.30, p > 0.10). Fatigue-related declines in voluntary RTD and RVD were both moderately correlated with MG rate of neuromuscular activation (r = 0.51-0.52, p < 0.05), but exhibited a trend with soleus (r = 0.39-0.41, p = 0.07-0.09). Thus, time-dependent factors, RVD and RTD, are likely important indicators of intrinsic muscle properties leading to the greater age-related decline in peak power when performing a repetitive dynamic fatigue task, which may be due to greater fatigue-related central impairments for the older men than young.