Longitudinal birth cohort study finds that life-course frailty associates with later-life heart size and function

A frailty index (FI) counts health deficit accumulation. Besides traditional risk factors, it is unknown whether the health deficit burden is related to the appearance of cardiovascular disease. In order to answer this question, the same multidimensional FI looking at 45-health deficits was serially calculated per participant at 4 time periods (0–16, 19–44, 45–54 and 60–64 years) using data from the 1946 Medical Research Council (MRC) British National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD)—the world’s longest running longitudinal birth cohort with continuous follow-up. From these the mean and total FI for the life-course, and the step change in deficit accumulation from one time period to another was derived. Echocardiographic data at 60–64 years provided: ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area (LVmassi, BSA), myocardial contraction fraction indexed to BSA (MCFi) and E/e′. Generalized linear models assessed the association between FIs and echocardiographic parameters after adjustment for relevant covariates. 1375 participants were included. For each single new deficit accumulated at any one of the 4 time periods, LVmassi increased by 0.91–1.44% (p < 0.013), while MCFi decreased by 0.6–1.02% (p < 0.05). A unit increase in FI at age 45–54 and 60–64, decreased EF by 11–12% (p < 0.013). A single health deficit step change occurring between 60 and 64 years and one of the earlier time periods, translated into higher odds (2.1–78.5, p < 0.020) of elevated LV filling pressure. Thus, the accumulation of health deficits at any time period of the life-course associates with a maladaptive cardiac phenotype in older age, dominated by myocardial hypertrophy and poorer function.

Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Frailty and Ageing: A Narrative Review

Globally, the population over the age of 60 is growing fast, but people age in different ways. Frailty, shown by the accumulation of age-related deficits, is a state of increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes among people of the same chronological age. Ageing results in a decline in diversity and homeostasis of microbiomes, and gut flora changes are related to health deficit accumulation and adverse health outcomes. In older people, health deficits including inappropriate intake, sarcopenia, physical inactivity, polypharmacy, and social vulnerability are factors associated with gut dysbiosis. The use of probiotics and prebiotics is a cost-effective and widely available intervention. Intake of probiotics and prebiotics may improve the homeostasis of gut microflora and prevent frailty and unhealthy aging. However, health effects vary among probiotics and prebiotics and among individual populations. This narrative review summarizes recent evidence about the relationship between prebiotic and probiotic consumption with health outcomes in older people.

Cumulative health deficits, APOE genotype, and risk for later-life mild cognitive impairment and dementia

ObjectiveTo determine whether health-deficit accumulation is associated with the risks of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia independently of APOE genotype.MethodsA frailty index was calculated using the deficit-accumulation approach in participants aged 50 years and older from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Cognitive status was determined by clinical evaluation. Using multistate transition models, we assessed the extent to which an increasing degree of frailty affected the probabilities of transitioning between not cognitively impaired (NCI), MCI, and dementia.ResultsParticipants (n=14 490) had a mean age of 72.2 years (SD=8.9 years; range=50–103 years). Among those NCI at baseline (n=9773), each 0.1 increment increase in the frailty index was associated with a higher risk of developing MCI and a higher risk of progressing to dementia. Among those with MCI at baseline (n=4717), higher frailty was associated with a higher risk of progressing to dementia, a lower probability of being reclassified as NCI, and a higher likelihood of returning to MCI in those that were reclassified as NCI. These risk effects were present and similar in both carriers and non-carriers of the APOE ε4 allele.ConclusionAmong older Americans, health-deficit accumulation affects the likelihood of progressive cognitive impairment and the likelihood of cognitive improvement independently of a strong genetic risk factor for dementia. Frailty represents an important risk factor for cognitive dysfunction and a marker of potential prognostic value.

Acceleration of health deficit accumulation in late-life: Evidence of terminal decline in frailty index three years before death in the US Health and Retirement study

BackgroundLittle is known about within-person frailty index (FI) changes during the last years of life. In this study, we assess whether there is a phase of accelerated health deficit accumulation (terminal health decline) in late-life.Material and methods23,393 observations from up to the last 21 years of life of 5,713 deceased participants of the AHEAD cohort in the Health and Retirement Study were assessed. A FI with 32 health deficits was calculated for up to 10 successive biannual assessments (1995-2014), and FI changes according to time-to-death were analyzed with a piecewise linear mixed model with random change points.ResultsThe average normal (pre-terminal) health deficit accumulation rate was 0.01 per year, which increased to 0.05 per year at approximately 3 years before death. Terminal decline began earlier in women and was steeper among men. The accelerated (terminal) rate of health deficit accumulation began at a FI value of 0.29 in the total sample, 0.27 for men, and 0.30 for women.ConclusionWe found evidence for an observable terminal health decline in the FI following declining physiological reserves and failing repair mechanisms. Our results suggest a conceptually meaningful cut-off value for the continuous FI around 0.30.

Mental health of students living with food insecurity during the transition to university

The present study examined differences in mental health and well-being between students with and without suspected food insecurity during their transition to university. We drew on existing data from four samples of traditionally-aged, first-year undergraduates enrolled at large universities in three provinces (Alberta N = 199; Québec N = 299; Ontario N = 461 and N = 510). Students completed online surveys assessing a wide range of health-related behaviours and indicators, including food security. Poorer mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, low satisfaction with life) was consistently associated with food insecurity across samples. The magnitude of mental health deficit was comparable to socioeconomic disadvantage associated with food insecurity. Students with food insecurity are disproportionately launching their university careers with poorer mental health, revealing a critical point of intervention for these socioeconomically higher-risk students.