P3-227: ANGIOTENSIN II AND BRAIN VOLUMES IN OLDER ADULTS IN THE BALTIMORE EXPERIENCE CORPS TRIAL (BECT) BRAIN HEALTH STUDY

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether individuals who began fighting competitively at a younger age experienced adverse brain health outcomes compared to fighters who began competing at an older age.BackgroundEstablished literature has made clear that fighting sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts can lead to head injury. Prior work from this group on the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study (PFBHS) found that exposure to repetitive head impacts is associated with lower brain volumes and decreased processing speed in fighters.Design/MethodsAs part of the PFBHS, current and previously licensed professional fighters were recruited, divided into active and retired cohorts, and matched with a control group that had no prior experience in sports with likely head trauma. This present study examined the relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to fighting sports and brain structure (MRI regional volume), cognitive performance (CNS Vital Signs, iComet C3), and clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms (PHQ-9, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale).ResultsBrain MRI data showed significant correlations between earlier AFE and smaller bilateral hippocampal and posterior corpus callosum volumes for both retired and active fighters. Earlier AFE in active fighters was correlated with decreased processing speed and decreased psychomotor speed. Retired fighters showed a correlation between earlier AFE and higher measures of depression and impulsivity.ConclusionsThe findings of this study help to inform clinicians, governing bodies, parents, and athletes of the risks associated with beginning to compete in fighting sports at a young age.

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Hearing and Vision Impairment in Older Adults: Implications for Cognitive, Mental, and Brain Health

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.593 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 156-156

Author(s):

Jennifer Deal ◽

Frank Lin ◽

Bonnielin Swenor

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Causal Mechanism ◽

Aging Brain ◽

Sensory Impairment ◽

Brain Health ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Present Evidence ◽

Age Related ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Sensory impairment impacts over 55% of Americans aged 60 years or older and may have important downstream consequences for the cognitive health of older adults. This session will present evidence for a relationship between sensory impairment and accelerated cognitive decline, increased risk of incident dementia, and increased mental and physical fatigability from two observational cohort studies. Additionally, this session will investigate the possible nature of these relationships. It may be that sensory impairment is a marker of dementia-related pathological changes in the brain, with potential ramifications for risk prediction and stratification. Alternatively, sensory impairment may have a direct impact on the aging brain, a potential causal mechanism liking sensory impairment and brain health, with implications for disease prevention. As part of this session, we will present evidence for associations between central auditory processing, a potential risk marker, and brain volumes measured with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and retinal vasculature density, as measured with optical coherence tomography. We will conclude by describing associations between age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness, and neurocognitive test performance and regional changes in brain atrophy and connectivity.

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Physical Activity and Fitness Effects on Cognition and Brain Health in Children and Older Adults

Kinesiology Review ◽

10.1123/krj.1.1.37 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 37-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Laura Chaddock ◽

Michelle W. Voss ◽

Arthur F. Kramer

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Brain Function ◽

The Elderly ◽

Tissue Loss ◽

Brain Health ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Cognitive Health ◽

Age Related

Our increasingly inactive lifestyle is detrimental to physical and cognitive health. This review focuses on the beneficial relation of physical activity and aerobic fitness to the brain and cognitive health in a youth and elderly population to highlight the need to change this pattern. In children, increased physical activity and higher levels of aerobic fitness have been associated with superior academic achievement and cognitive processes. Differences in brain volumes and brain function of higher-fit and lower-fit peers are potential mechanisms underlying the performance differences in cognitive challenges. We hope that this research will encourage modifications in educational policies that will increase physical activity during the school day. In addition, older adults who participate in physical activity show higher performance on a variety of cognitive tasks, coupled with less risk of cognitive impairment. The cognitive enhancements are in part driven by less age-related brain tissue loss and increases in the efficiency of brain function. Given the increasing aging population and threat of dementia, research about the plasticity of the elderly active brain has important public health implications. Collectively, the data support that participation in physical activity could enhance daily functioning, learning, achievement, and brain health in children and the elderly.

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More Energy and Less Fatigue: Implications for Successful Brain Aging

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2830 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 782-782

Author(s):

Caterina Rosano ◽

Nancy Glynn

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Brain Aging ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Osteoporotic Fractures ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Brain Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Body Composition Study

Abstract Higher energy and lower fatigue are intuitively important to live independent, active lives. However, little is known about the relation between brain health, energy, and fatigue in older adults. From a neurobiological standpoint, energy and fatigue appear to rely on distinct, albeit overlapping brain networks, but most evidence is from patients with neurodegenerative conditions. These relations have not been fully examined in community older adults. In this symposium, we first present an overview of the neurobiology underlying fatigability and energy states. We will then present original unpublished data on brain health, fatigability, and energy from four well-established epidemiological studies of aging: Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS), Long Life Family Study (LLFS), Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), and the Health Aging Body Composition Study (Health ABC). Specifically, Ms. Allen will explore whether personality traits are related to perceived mental fatigability in MrOS. Using LLFS data, Ms. Gmelin will examine whether perceived physical fatigability is associated with global cognition, verbal fluency, memory and psychomotor speed. Dr. Schrack will share BLSA data showing cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between lower walking efficiency and reduced brain volumes. Dr. Tian will evaluate the neuroimaging signature of perceived energy levels in Health ABC. Taken together, our data indicate that higher energy and lower fatigability likely reflect overlapping but distinct aspects of brain health. The long-term effects of promoting energy and lowering fatigability on dementia should be further studied.

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Brain Health: Attitudes towards Technology Adoption in Older Adults

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9010023 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 23

Author(s):

Nadir G. Abdelrahman ◽

Raza Haque ◽

Molly E. Polverento ◽

Andrea Wendling ◽

Courtney M. Goetz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Technology Adoption ◽

Physical Health ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Information Technologies ◽

New Technology ◽

Handheld Devices ◽

Brain Health ◽

Use Of Technology ◽

Health Related

(1) Background: There is increasing scholarly support for the notion that properly implemented and used, technology can be of substantial benefit for older adults. Use of technology has been associated with improved self-rating of health and fewer chronic conditions. Use of technology such as handheld devices by older adults has the potential to improve engagement and promote cognitive and physical health. However, although, literature suggests some willingness by older adults to use technology, simultaneously there are reports of a more cautious attitude to its adoption. Our objective was to determine the opinions towards information technologies, with special reference to brain health, in healthy older adults either fully retired or still working in some capacity including older adult workers and retired adults living in an independent elderly living community. We were especially interested in further our understanding of factors that may play a role in technology adoption and its relevance to addressing health related issues in this population; (2) Methods: Two focus groups were conducted in an inner-city community. Participants were older adults with an interest in their general health and prevention of cognitive decline. They were asked to discuss their perceptions of and preferences for the use of technology. Transcripts were coded for thematic analysis; (3) Results: Seven common themes emerged from the focus group interviews: physical health, cognitive health, social engagement, organizing information, desire to learn new technology, advancing technology, and privacy/security; and (4) Conclusions: This study suggests that in order to promote the use of technology in older adults, one needs to consider wider contextual issues, not only device design per se, but the older adult’s rationale for using technology and their socio-ecological context.

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Reply to: Comment on: Non‐esterified fatty acids and risks of frailty, disability, and mobility limitation in older adults: The cardiovascular health study

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ◽

10.1111/jgs.17130 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Ahiawodzi ◽

Kenneth J. Mukamal

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Mobility Limitation ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Esterified Fatty Acids

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Intersection of Sex and Frailty in Humoral Immune Responses to Influenza Vaccine in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.869 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 271-272

Author(s):

Janna Shapiro ◽

Helen Kuo ◽

Rosemary Morgan ◽

Huifen Li ◽

Sabra Klein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Influenza A ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Influenza Vaccines ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

High Dose ◽

Humoral Immune ◽

Humoral Immune Responses

Abstract Older adults bear the highest burden of severe disease and complications associated with seasonal influenza, with annual vaccination serving as the best option for protection. Variability in vaccine efficacy exists, yet the host factors that affect immune responses to inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that sex and frailty interact to affect vaccine-induced humoral responses among older adults. To test this hypothesis, community-dwelling adults above 75 years of age were recruited yearly, assessed for frailty (as defined by the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria), and vaccinated with the high-dose trivalent IIV. Humoral immune responses were evaluated via hemagglutination inhibition titers. The study began during the 2014-2015 influenza season, with yearly cohorts ranging from 76-163 individuals. A total of 617 vaccinations were delivered from 2014-2019. In preliminary analyses, the outcome of interest was seroconversion, defined as ≥ 4-fold rise in titers. Crude odds ratios suggest that females are more likely to seroconvert to influenza A strains (H1N1: OR = 1.39, (0.98-1.96) ; H3N2: 1.17 (0.85 – 1.62)), while males are more likely to seroconvert to the B strain (OR = 0.85 (0.60 – 1.22)). Furthermore, this sex difference was modified by frailty – for example, the odds of seroconversion to H1N1 were 65% higher for females than males among those who were nonfrail, and only 30% higher among females who were frail. Together, these results suggest that sex and frailty interact to impact immune responses to influenza vaccines. These findings may be leveraged to better protect vulnerable populations.

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Comment on: Nonesterified fatty acids and risks of frailty, disability, and mobility limitation in older adults: The cardiovascular health study

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ◽

10.1111/jgs.17129 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mehmet Ilkin Naharci ◽

Ilker Tasci

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Mobility Limitation ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Nonesterified Fatty Acids

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Association between Physical Frailty Subdomains and Oral Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18062931 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 2931

Author(s):

Ryo Komatsu ◽

Koutatsu Nagai ◽

Yoko Hasegawa ◽

Kazuki Okuda ◽

Yuto Okinaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Oral Frailty

This cross-sectional study aimed to demonstrate the association between physical frailty subdomains and oral frailty. This study involved community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥65 years). Physical frailty was assessed with the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Oral frailty was defined as limitations in at least three of six domains. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between physical frailty risk and oral frailty. In addition, we examined the association between physical frailty subdomains (gait speed, grip strength, exhaustion, low physical activity, and weight loss) and oral frailty. A total of 380 participants were recruited for this study. Overall, 18% and 14% of the participants were at risk of physical frailty and had oral frailty, respectively. Physical frailty risk (odds ratio (OR) = 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22–4.75, p = 0.012) was associated with oral frailty in multivariate analysis. In secondary analysis, among physical frailty subdomains, gait speed (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73–0.97, p = 0.019) was associated with oral frailty. The present findings suggest that physical frailty is closely related to oral frailty. Among physical frailty subdomains, decreased gait speed in particular is an important indicator related to the development of oral frailty.

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