Physiological stress in safer cycling in older age (SiFAr-stress): effect of a multicomponent exercise intervention—a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background SiFAr-Stress investigates the impact of cycling on stress levels in older adults. Uncertainty due to change to motorized bicycle or fear of falling can be perceived as stressors for cyclists. Stress activates different physiological signal cascades and stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which leads to the release of the stress hormone cortisol and further effects such as the development of low-grade inflammation. Both can—in the long term—be associated with negative health outcomes. The aim of the study SiFAr-Stress is to analyze inflammatory processes as well as the activity of stress systems before and after a cycling intervention for older adults. Methods In this study, community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older will be randomly assigned to either a cycling or a control intervention in a parallel-group design. Objective HPA axis–related measures (saliva cortisol and hair cortisol) will be assessed before, after, and 6–9 months after the cycling and control intervention (T0, T1, and T2). Furthermore, changes in cortisol reactivity in response to the cycling intervention will be investigated at the second and seventh training lessons. Furthermore, secondary outcomes (fear of falling, perceived stress, salivary alpha amylase, and C-reactive protein) will be assessed at T0, T1, and T2. Discussion The study will be the first, in which stress- and health-related bio-physiological outcomes will be assessed in the context of a multicomponent exercise intervention, addressing cycling in older adults. It will enable us to better understand the underlying patho-physiological and psychological mechanisms and will help to improve interventions for this target group. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT04362514. Prospectively registered on 27 April 2020

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Changes in Cortical Activation Patterns in Language Areas following an Aerobic Exercise Intervention in Older Adults

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2017/6340302 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Joe Nocera ◽

Bruce Crosson ◽

Kevin Mammino ◽

Keith M. McGregor

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Verbal Fluency ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Spin Group ◽

Verbal Fluency Task ◽

Semantic Verbal Fluency ◽

Link Type ◽

Fluency Task

Previous work has shown that older adults who evidence increased right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) activity during language tasks show decreased sematic verbal fluency performance. The current study sought to evaluate if an aerobic exercise intervention can alter patterns of brain activity during a semantic verbal fluency task assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirty-two community-dwelling, sedentary older adults were enrolled to a 12-week aerobic “Spin” exercise group or a 12-week nonaerobic exercise control condition (Balance). Thirty participants completed their assigned intervention (16 Spin; 14 Balance) with pre- and postintervention assessments of a semantic verbal fluency task during fMRI and estimated VO2max testing. There was a significant increase in the change scores for estimated VO2max of the Spin group when compared to the Balance group. Semantic verbal fluency output within the scanner was also improved in the Spin group as compared to controls at postassessment. Group fMRI comparisons of IFG activity showed lower activity in the right IFG following the intervention in the aerobic Spin group when compared to the Balance group. Regression analysis of imaging data with change in both estimated VO2max and semantic verbal fluency was negatively correlated with activity in right IFG. The current work is registered as clinical trial with NCT01787292 and NCT02787655.

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Cost-effectiveness of a Diet and Resistance Exercise Intervention in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: ProMuscle in Practice

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association ◽

10.1016/j.jamda.2020.12.036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 792-802.e2

Author(s):

Berber G. Dorhout ◽

Annemien Haveman-Nies ◽

Ellen J.I. van Dongen ◽

Nick L.W. Wezenbeek ◽

Esmée L. Doets ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Recruitment and Screening Methods in Alzheimer’s Disease Research: The FIT-AD Trial

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glab092 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Susan Greimel ◽

Jean F Wyman ◽

Lin Zhang ◽

Fang Yu

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Community Outreach ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Single Site ◽

Recruitment Strategy ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Screening Process

Abstract Background Recruiting older adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia into clinical trials is challenging requiring multiple approaches. We describe recruitment and screening processes and results from the FIT-AD Trial, a single site, pilot randomized controlled trial testing the effects of a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention on cognition and hippocampal volume in community-dwelling older adults with mild-to moderate AD dementia. Methods Ten recruitment strategies and a four-step screening process were used to ensure a homogenous sample and exercise safety. The initial target sample was 90 participants over 48 months which was increased to 96 to allow those in the screening process to enroll if qualified. A tertiary analysis of recruitment and screening rates, recruitment yields and costs, and demographic characteristics of participants was conducted. Results During the 48-month recruiting period, 396 potential participants responded to recruitment efforts, 301 individuals were reached and 103 were tentatively qualified. Of these, 67 (69.8%) participants completed the optional magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging and seven were excluded due to abnormal MRI findings. As a result, we enrolled 96 participants with a 2.92 screen ratio, 2.14 recruitment rate, and 31.9% recruitment yield. Referrals (28.1%) and Alzheimer’s Association events/services (21.9%) yielded over 49% of the enrolled participants. Total recruitment cost was $ 38,246 or $ 398 per randomized participant. Conclusions A multi-prong approach involving extensive community outreach was essential in recruiting older adults with AD dementia into a single-site trial. For every randomized participant, three individuals needed to be screened. Referrals were the most cost-effective recruitment strategy.

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Prospective Associations of Physical Frailty With Future Falls and Fear of Falling: A 48-Month Cohort Study

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/pzab059 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

K Makino ◽

S Lee ◽

S Bae ◽

I Chiba ◽

K Harada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to examine the prospective associations of physical frailty with future falls and fear of falling (FOF) among community-dwelling older adults. Methods A prospective cohort study with a 48-month follow-up was conducted in a Japanese community. Participants were 2469 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older who completed baseline and follow-up assessments at intervals of 48±2 months. Primary outcomes were recent falls (defined as at least one fall within the past year) and FOF (determined by response to “Are you afraid of falling?”) at follow-up survey. Physical frailty, operationalized by the frailty phenotype (slowness, weakness, exhaustion, weight loss, and low activity) based on the criteria of the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS), was also assessed as a predictor of future falls and FOF. Results Multivariate logistic regression showed that pre-frailty or frailty increase the risk of not only future falls (OR: 1.57; 95%CI = 1.20-2.05) but also FOF (OR: 1.33; 95%CI = 1.05-1.69). In addition, the relationship between baseline frailty status and future falls remained significant after adjusting for baseline FOF (OR: 1.55; 95%CI = 1.19-2.02), and the relationship between baseline frailty status and future FOF also remained significant after adjusting for baseline falls (OR: 1.32; 95%CI = 1.04-1.68). Conclusions Frailty status may predict future falls and FOF among community-dwelling older adults. Strategies to prevent frailty may be beneficial to prevent not only future falls but also future FOF in a community setting. Impact Falls and FOF have a close relationship but a different clinical meaning. Older adults with physical frailty may require monitoring as high-risk not only for falls but also for FOF.

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The effectiveness of exergames on fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607863.2021.1950615 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Lanying Ge ◽

Tai-Te Su ◽

Yu An ◽

Shannon T. Mejía

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Foot Problems in Older Adults

Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association ◽

10.7547/15-186 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 108 (2) ◽

pp. 126-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Amy Muchna ◽

Bijan Najafi ◽

Christopher S. Wendel ◽

Michael Schwenk ◽

David G. Armstrong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Peripheral Neuropathy ◽

Motor Performance ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Lower Percentage ◽

Wearable Sensor ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Foot Problems

Background:Research on foot problems and frailty is sparse and could advance using wearable sensor–based measures of gait, balance, and physical activity (PA). This study examined the effect of foot problems on the likelihood of falls, frailty syndrome, motor performance, and PA in community-dwelling older adults.Methods:Arizona Frailty Cohort Study participants (community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years without baseline cognitive deficit, severe movement disorders, or recent stroke) underwent Fried frailty and foot assessment. Gait, balance (bipedal eyes open and eyes closed), and spontaneous PA over 48 hours were measured using validated wearable sensor technologies.Results:Of 117 participants, 41 (35%) were nonfrail, 56 (48%) prefrail, and 20 (17%) frail. Prevalence of foot problems (pain, peripheral neuropathy, or deformity) increased significantly as frailty category worsened (any problem: 63% in nonfrail, 80% in prefrail [odds ratio (OR) = 2.0], and 95% in frail [OR = 8.3]; P = .03 for trend) due to associations between foot problems and both weakness and exhaustion. Foot problems were associated with fear of falling but not with fall history or incident falls over 6 months. Foot pain and peripheral neuropathy were associated with lower gait speed and stride length; increased double support time; increased mediolateral sway of center of mass during walking, age adjusted; decreased eyes open sway of center of mass and ankle during quiet standing, age adjusted; and lower percentage walking, percentage standing, and total steps per day.Conclusions:Foot problems were associated with frailty level and decreased motor performance and PA. Wearable technology is a practical way to screen for deterioration in gait, balance, and PA that may be associated with foot problems. Routine assessment and management of foot problems could promote earlier intervention to retain motor performance and manage fear of falling in older adults, which may ultimately improve healthy aging and reduce risk of frailty.

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Factors influencing Fear of Falling in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-963330/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jacqueline Giovanna De Roza ◽

David Wei Liang Ng ◽

Blessy Koottappal Mathew ◽

Teena Jose ◽

Ling Jia Goh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Clinical Factors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Frail Older Adults ◽

History Of ◽

The Mean ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract BackgroundFalls in older adults is a common problem worldwide. Fear of falling (FoF) is a consequence of falls which has far-reaching implications including activity restriction, functional decline and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with FoF in a segment of Singapore’s community-dwelling older adults. MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of adults aged 65 and above from 4 primary care clinics from September 2020 to March 2021. Data were collected on demographic factors and clinical factors including history of falls and frailty as determined by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). FoF was measured using the Short Falls Efficacy Scale–International (Short FES-I), cut-off score of 14 and above indicated high FoF. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of high FoF.ResultsOut of 360 older adults, 78.1% were Chinese and 59.7% females. The mean age was 78.3 years and 76 (21.1%) had a history of falls in the past six months. Almost half (43.1%) were mildly to moderately frail and most (80.6%) had three or more chronic conditions. The mean FoF score was 15.5 (SD 5.97) and 60.8% reported high FoF. Logistic regression found that Malay ethnicity (OR = 5.81, 95% CI 1.77 – 19.13), use of walking aids (OR = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.54 – 8.77) and increasing frailty were significant predictors for high FoF. The odds of high FoF were significantly higher in pre frail older adults (OR = 6.87, 95% CI = 2.66 – 17.37), mildly frail older adults (OR =18.58, 95% CI = 4.88 – 70.34) and moderately frail older adults (OR = 144.78, 95% CI = 13.86 – 1512.60).ConclusionsFoF is a prevalent and compelling issue in community-dwelling older adults, particularly those with frailty. The demographic and clinical factors identified in this study will be helpful to develop targeted and tailored interventions for FoF.

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Prevalence of fear of falling and associated factors among Japanese community-dwelling older adults

Medicine ◽

10.1097/md.0000000000009721 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 97 (4) ◽

pp. e9721 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Yoshihito Tomita ◽

Kazuhiko Arima ◽

Ritsu Tsujimoto ◽

Shin-ya Kawashiri ◽

Takayuki Nishimura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Biological and Neuroimaging Markers as Predictors of 5-Year Incident Frailty in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of the MAPT Study

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glaa296 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Wan-Hsuan Lu ◽

Philipe de Souto Barreto ◽

Yves Rolland ◽

Ali Bouyahia ◽

Clara Fischer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Hippocampal Volume ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Low Grade ◽

Omega 3 ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Hydroxyvitamin D ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

25 Hydroxyvitamin D

Abstract Background This study aims to investigate the predictive value of biological and neuroimaging markers to determine incident frailty among older people for a period of 5 years. Methods We included 1394 adults aged 70 years and older from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial, who were not frail at baseline (according to Fried’s criteria) and who had at least 1 post-baseline measurement of frailty. Participants who progressed to frailty during the 5-year follow-up were categorized as “incident frailty” and those who remained non-frail were categorized as “without frailty.” The differences of baseline biochemical factors (25-hydroxyvitamin D, homocysteine, omega-3 index, C-reactive protein), other biological markers (Apolipoprotein E genotypes, amyloid-β deposits), and neuroimaging data (gray matter volume, hippocampal volume, white matter hyperintensities) were compared between groups. Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the associations between biomarkers and incident frailty. Results A total of 195 participants (14.0%) became frail over 5 years. Although 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency, homocysteine levels, low-grade inflammation (persistently increased C-reactive protein 3–10 mg/L), gray matter, and hippocampal volume were significantly associated with incident frailty in unadjusted models, these associations disappeared after adjustment for age, sex, and other confounders. Omega-3 index was the sole marker that presented a trend of association with incident frailty (hazard ratio: 0.92; 95% confidence interval: 0.83–1.01; p = .082). Conclusions This study failed to identify biomarkers able to predict frailty incidence in community-dwelling older adults for a period of 5 years. Further longitudinal research with multiple measurements of biomarkers and frailty is needed to evaluate the long-term relationships between changes in biomarkers levels and frailty evolution.

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