Are body fat and inflammatory markers independently associated with age-related muscle changes?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A growing number of studies have shown that body fat and inflammation are associated with age-related changes in body muscle composition. However, most of these studies did not control for potential confounders. The aim was to determine whether there is an association between body fat and inflammatory cytokines with muscle mass/strength decline in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Anthropometric, physical and functionality variables were collected. Nutritional status was assessed by the MNA form. Dynapenia was assessed with handgrip strength on the dominant hand using a dynamometer. Sarcopenia was determined using adapted criteria from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2). Inflammatory cytokines were evaluated in plasma using a multiplex assay. Associations to muscle mass/strength decline were analyzed using a multinominal logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: We recruited a convenience sample of 311 adults aged 60 years or older. Most of subjects were sufficiently active females with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range [IQR], 64-74 years), whereas about a half (46.3%) were at risk of malnutrition. The prevalence of dynapenia was 38.3%, whereas sarcopenia was 13.2%. After controlling for potential confounders, we found that relative fat mass index is independently associated with sarcopenia. Loss of strength was independently associated only with female sex, lower physical activity, worse nutrition and IL-10/TNF-α ratio, whereas female sex, an insufficiently active lifestyle and relative fat mass index were the key determinants of sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of physical activity and healthy diet as effective interventions to prevent muscle mass/strength decline, and points to IL-10/TNF-α ratio and body fat as independently associated factors for dynapenia and sarcopenia, respectively.

Frailty and cognitive performance of elderly in the context of social vulnerability.

Elderly who live in the context of social vulnerability have lower education and socioeconomic status. OBJECTIVE: To analyze cognitive performance as a factor associated with frailty status in elderly living in contexts of social vulnerability. METHODS: An exploratory, comparative, cross-sectional study using a quantitative method was conducted with elderly people registered at Social Assistance Reference Centers. A semi-structured interview, the Edmonton Frail Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were applied. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. To analyze the data, a logistic regression was performed considering two groups (frail and non-frail). RESULTS: 247 elderly individuals participated in the study, with a mean age of 68.52 (±SD =7.28) years and education of 1-4 years (n=133). All the elderly evaluated resided in vulnerable regions. Regarding frailty, 91 (36.8%) showed frailty at some level (mild, moderate or severe) and 216 (87.4%) had cognitive impairment. On the regression analysis, frailty was associated with number of diseases (OR:1.60; 95%CI: 1.28-1.99) and cognition (OR:0.93; 95%CI: 0.89-0.98). CONCLUSION: Identifying level of frailty and cognition in socially vulnerable elderly reinforces the need for early detection in both these conditions by the public services that provide care for this population with a focus on prevention.

Idosos que vivem em contexto de vulnerabilidade social apresentam menor escolaridade e condição socioeconômica. OBJETIVO: Analisar o desempenho cognitivo como um fator associado para nível de fragilidade em idosos residentes em contextos de vulnerabilidade social. MÉTODOS: Estudo exploratório, comparativo e transversal, com a utilização do método quantitativo realizado com idosos cadastrados em Centros de Referência de Assistência Social. Utilizou-seentrevista semi-estruturada, Escala de Fragilidade de Edmonton e Montreal Cognitive Assessment. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Para análise dos dados foi realizada regressão logística, considerando dois grupos (frágeis e não frágeis). RESULTADOS: Participaram do estudo 247 idosos, com média de idade de 68,52 (dp=7,28) anos e com escolaridade de um a quatro anos (n=133). Todos os idosos avaliados residiam em regiões com vulnerabilidade. Quanto à fragilidade, 91 (36,8%) apresentaram fragilidade em algum nível (leve, moderada ou severa) e 216 (87,4%) apresentaram comprometimento cognitivo. Na análise de regressão, houve associação da fragilidade com número de doenças (OR:1.60; 95%IC: 1.28-1.99) e cognição (OR:0.93; 95%IC: 0.89-0.98). CONCLUSÃO: Identificar o nível de fragilidade e cognição de idosos em vulnerabilidade social reforça a necessidade de detecção precoce em ambas as condições por parte dos serviços públicos que assistem essa população com foco na prevenção.