Comparison of a Multi-Component Physical Function Battery to Usual Walking Speed for Assessing Lower Extremity Function and Mobility Limitation in Older Adults

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) with decline in lower extremity function (LEF) over approximately 3 years in dementia-free older adults with memory complaints.MethodsWe obtained brain MRI data from 458 community-dwelling adults, aged 70 years or over, at baseline, and from 358 adults over an average follow-up of 963 days. We evaluated LEF using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). We related baseline WMH volumes and progression to SPPB scores over time, using mixed-effect linear regressions. For the secondary analyses, we categorized baseline WMH volume into quartiles, and dichotomized the WMH progression to compare fast and slow progression.ResultsBaseline WMH volume (β = −0.017, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.025 to −0.009), as well as WMH progression (β = −0.002, 95% CI −0.003 to −0.001), significantly associated with a decline in SPPB performance in adjusted analyses. Compared with the lowest quartile of baseline WMH volume, the highest quartile associated with a decline in SPPB performance (β = −0.301, 95% CI −0.558 to −0.044). Fast progression also associated with a decline in SPPB performance. We found clinically meaningful differences in the SPPB, with higher scores in participants with slow progression of WMH, at both 24 and 36 months.ConclusionsBaseline level and WMH progression associated with longitudinal decline in SPPB performance among older adults. We detected clinically meaningful differences in SPPB performance on comparing fast with slow progression of WMH, suggesting that speed of WMH progression is an important determinant of LEF during aging.

Download Full-text

Virtual reality to improve lower extremity function, kinematic parameters, and walking speed post-stroke: Preliminary results.

Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare ◽

10.4108/icst.pervasivehealth.2014.255336 ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlos Luque-Moreno ◽

Ángel Oliva Pascual-Vaca ◽

Pawel Kiper ◽

Cleofás Rodríguez-Blanco ◽

Michela Agostini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Kinematic Parameters ◽

Lower Extremity Function ◽

Preliminary Results ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Extremity Function

Download Full-text

Plasma Ceramides and Risk of Impaired Lower-Extremity Function in Older Adults: A Nested Case–Control Study

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glaa188 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Francisco Félix Caballero ◽

Ellen A Struijk ◽

Antonio Buño ◽

Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo ◽

Esther Lopez-Garcia

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Body Mass ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Lower Extremity Function ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background Higher levels of ceramides have been linked to several chronic diseases; also there is emerging cross-sectional evidence that ceramides are associated with lower physical functioning. This research assessed for the first time the prospective relationship between ceramide species and impaired lower-extremity function (ILEF) in older adults. Methods Case–control study with 43 cases of ILEF and 86 age- and sex-matched controls, which was nested in the Seniors-ENRICA cohort of community-dwelling older adults. Incident ILEF from 2015 to 2017 was ascertained with the Short Physical Performance Battery. In 2015, 27 ceramide species were measured in plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Conditional logistic regression models were used to assess the longitudinal relationship between ceramides concentration and incidence of ILEF. Results After adjusting for education level, body mass index, alcohol and total energy intake, physical activity, and presence of chronic conditions, some ceramide species were related to 2-year incidence of ILEF. Specifically, the odds ratios of ILEF per 1-SD increase in ceramide concentration were: 1.66 [95% CI = (1.03, 2.68)] for ceramide C14:0, 1.61 (1.00, 2.59) for ceramide C16:0, and 1.64 (1.03, 2.60) for ceramide C16:1 (n-7). In the case of ceramides C16:0 and C16:1 (n-7), a stronger relationship was found in those with a higher body mass index; systolic blood pressure could also mediate the relationship between ceramide C16:1 (n-7) and ILEF (p for interaction = .03). Conclusions Higher plasma levels of ceramides C14:0, C16:0, and C16:1 (n-7) are associated with higher risk of ILEF, and might serve as risk markers for functional decline in older adults.

Download Full-text

Gender Differences in Trajectories of Lower Extremity Function in Older Adults: Findings From the International Mobility in Aging Study

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association ◽

10.1016/j.jamda.2019.04.014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (10) ◽

pp. 1199-1205.e4 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tamer Ahmed ◽

Simon D. French ◽

Emmanuelle Belanger ◽

Ricardo Oliveira Guerra ◽

Maria Victoria Zunzunegui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

International Mobility ◽

Lower Extremity Function ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Aging Study

Download Full-text

Improving balance control and self-reported lower extremity function in community-dwelling older adults: a randomized control trial

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/0269215512450295 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 195-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Itshak Melzer ◽

Lars IE Oddsson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Randomized Control Trial ◽

Balance Control ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Lower Extremity Function ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Randomized Control ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Download Full-text

Association between patient-reported functional measures and incident falls

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84557-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wanfen Yip ◽

Lixia Ge ◽

Bee Hoon Heng ◽

Woan Shin Tan

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Physical Function ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Lower Extremity Function ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Function Domain

AbstractLower extremity muscle strength, and functional limitations are important modifiable predictors of falls, but are often examined using performance based measures. We examined the association between self-reported physical function limitations, determined using Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument(LLFDI) and incident falls in community-dwelling elderly individuals. 283 older adults participants were included in this analysis. Physical function limitations were defined as a person’s difficulty in completing items of the lower extremity function domain and composite scores of the LLFDI. Information on falls was obtained through a standardised questionnaire. At one-year follow-up, 15.2% (43) of the participants experienced their first fall. In the multivariable analysis, individuals who reported difficulties in items of lower extremity function domain were more likely to experience a fall (incidence rate ratio[IRR]: ranging between 2.43 and 7.01; all P ≤ 0.046). In addition, decreasing advanced lower extremity function scores (IRR: 1.70, 95% confidence interval[CI]): 1.04, 2.78) and overall function component score (IRR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.22, 3.44) were associated with higher risk of incident falls. Physical function limitations, determined using LLFDI, were associated with incident falls. Our findings provide further evidence that the LLFDI function component has the potential to be used as a self-assessment tool for fall risk.

Download Full-text