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Physical Performance, Biomarkers and Healthy Aging in Older Adults
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Physical Performance, Biomarkers and Healthy Aging in Older Adults

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 9552

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Zoraida Verde Rello

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Duques de Soria, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: biomarkers; aging; quality of life; pharmacogenomics; genetic variants; drug adverse events; smoking; COPD; pulmonary diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic of interest for this Special Issue is healthy aging, particularly as longer lifespans do not always correlate with sustained wellbeing. As health is multifactorial, research in this field has a wide scope, including disease avoidance and the maintenance of physical function into old age (Christensen et al., 2009; Kuh et al., 2014). Focusing on the latter, a number of physical performance measures are associated with healthy aging, including grip strength, standing balance, and walking speed, with lower scores in these tests typically associated with increased all-cause mortality (Rantanen, 2003; Cooper et al., 2010).

As such, along with the absence of disease states, muscle strength is an important component of healthy aging. Age-related loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle function leads to a decline in physical performance, loss of independence, and reduced quality of life. The elderly are vulnerable with low physical activity and periods of bed rest, and they experience more severe loss of lean tissue/muscle mass than younger adults do.

With the advancement of scientific technology, analytical methods that were once too difficult and expensive to apply to many issues related to global medicine have been simplified and are increasingly being applied to aging. Currently, research on biomarkers indicating healthy aging is moving into genetic and proteomic research in the hunt for a unifying system of prediction and diagnosis of the condition. Biomarkers of healthy aging would be useful as outcome measures in trials of interventions designed to extend the health span, and public health-related population surveys would benefit from reliable, readily-measured indices of healthy aging.

Prof. Dr. Zoraida Verde Rello
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • older adults
  • aging
  • genetic variation
  • biomarkers
  • quality of life
  • physical performance

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1588 KiB  
Article
Traditional Thai Massage Promoted Immunity in the Elderly via Attenuation of Senescent CD4+ T Cell Subsets: A Randomized Crossover Study
by Kanda Sornkayasit, Amonrat Jumnainsong, Wisitsak Phoksawat, Wichai Eungpinichpong and Chanvit Leelayuwat
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3210; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063210 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3134
Abstract
The beneficial physiological effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) have been previously documented. However, its effect on immune status, particularly in the elderly, has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of multiple rounds of TTM on senescent CD4+ T [...] Read more.
The beneficial physiological effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) have been previously documented. However, its effect on immune status, particularly in the elderly, has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of multiple rounds of TTM on senescent CD4+ T cell subsets in the elderly. The study recruited 12 volunteers (61–75 years), with senescent CD4+ T cell subsets, who received six weekly 1-h TTM sessions or rest, using a randomized controlled crossover study with a 30-day washout period. Flow cytometry analysis of surface markers and intracellular cytokine staining was performed. TTM could attenuate the senescent CD4+ T cell subsets, especially in CD4+28null NKG2D+ T cells (n = 12; p < 0.001). The participants were allocated into two groups (low < 2.75% or high ≥ 2.75%) depending on the number of CD4+28null NKG2D+ T cells. After receiving TTM over 6 sessions, the cell population of the high group had significantly decreased (p < 0.001), but the low group had no significant changes. In conclusion, multiple rounds of TTM may promote immunity through the attenuation of aberrant CD4+ T subsets. TTM may be provided as a complementary therapy to improve the immune system in elderly populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance, Biomarkers and Healthy Aging in Older Adults)
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11 pages, 365 KiB  
Article
Muscular Strength and Quality of Life in Older Adults: The Role of ACTN3 R577X Polymorphism
by Ana Fernández-Araque, Andrea Giaquinta-Aranda, Jose Andrés Rodríguez-Díez, Silvia Carretero-Molinero, Jorge López-López and Zoraida Verde
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(3), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031055 - 25 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2409
Abstract
As longevity is increasing, the 65-year-old and older population is projected to increase in the next decades, as are the consequences of age-related muscle deterioration on the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of the ACTN3 [...] Read more.
As longevity is increasing, the 65-year-old and older population is projected to increase in the next decades, as are the consequences of age-related muscle deterioration on the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of the ACTN3R577X polymorphism with quality of life and muscular strength in an older Spanish population. In total, 281 older adults participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements, chronic diseases, prescribed medications, quality of life, hand grip strength, and physical activity and nutritional status data were collected. ACTN3 R577X genotyping was determined using Taqman probes. Multivariate regression analysis revealed in adjusted model that, in men, the ACTN3 R577X genotype was significantly associated with hand grip strength (HGS), regression coefficient (β) = 1.23, p = 0.008, dimension 1 of the five-dimension questionnaire EuroQoL (EQ-5D, mobility), (β) = −1.44, p = 0.006, and clinical group risk (CGR) category (β) = −1.38, p = 0.006. In women, a marginal association between the ACTN3 R577X genotype and the CGR category was observed, with a regression coefficient of (β) = −0.97, (p = 0.024). Our findings suggest that the ACTN3 R577X genotype may influence the decline in muscle strength and quality of life in older Spanish adult males. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance, Biomarkers and Healthy Aging in Older Adults)
22 pages, 2007 KiB  
Article
Combined Black Rice Germ, Bran Supplement and Exercise Intervention Modulate Aging Biomarkers and Improve Physical Performance and Lower-Body Muscle Strength Parameters in Aging Population
by Mathuramat Seesen, Warathit Semmarath, Supachai Yodkeeree, Ratana Sapbamrer, Pisittawoot Ayood, Rungnapa Malasao, Krongporn Ongprasert, Jiraporn Chittrakul, Penprapa Siviroj and Pornngarm Limtrakul (Dejkriengkraikul)
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(8), 2931; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082931 - 23 Apr 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3470
Abstract
Aging is a time-dependent functional decline in muscle mass and strength, which is reflected in poor physical performances, hormonal imbalance, and development of chronic low-grade inflammation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of black rice germ, bran supplement, and exercise program either [...] Read more.
Aging is a time-dependent functional decline in muscle mass and strength, which is reflected in poor physical performances, hormonal imbalance, and development of chronic low-grade inflammation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of black rice germ, bran supplement, and exercise program either alone or in combination for 24 weeks on the aging biomarkers (C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6, Insulin-like growth factor-1, and CD4:CD8 T cell ratio) physical performance, muscle strength parameters (walking speed, sit-to-stand time, grip strength) among Thai aging population. A total of 120 healthy volunteers aged 65–74 years were assigned to the exercise group (EX), black rice germ, and bran supplement (BR) group or the combination of BR and EX group (BR + EX). Over the course of the 24-week intervention, compared with baseline data (T0), the combined BR + EX intervention significantly decreased the inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels, both p < 0.05 vs. T0) and significantly increased the insulin-like growth factor-1 levels (p < 0.001 vs. T0). Significant improvement in physical performance and muscle strength were also observed in the combined BR + EX group (decrease in sit-to-stand time and gait speed over the 24-week intervention, both p < 0.05 vs. T0, and trend toward grip strength improvement at p = 0.088 vs. T0). Overall, our results indicated a synergistic effect towards the combined intervention with the sustainable improvement in physical performances, lower-body muscle strength, and the modulation of both inflammatory and endocrine biomarkers. This study could encourage older adults to change their lifestyles to improve healthy aging and longevity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance, Biomarkers and Healthy Aging in Older Adults)
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