Wanna Age Younger? Just Manage the Risky Factors For Your Heart

Cardiovascular risk management can preserve physical function as we grow older.

Managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may protect physical function over the aging process, according to new research published today in The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.

“Approximately 10% of older adults have muscle weakness and diminished physical function that leads to adverse health outcomes and physical disability,” said lead author Dr. Shivani Sahni.

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“Since the loss of physical function contributes to reduced mobility, disability, institutionalization, and mortality, management of CVD risk factors can help preserve physical function with age,” said Dr. Sahni.

Vascular Measurements: The Connection between Age-Related Loss in Physical Functions

In cross-sectional analysis, vascular measurements were associated with grip strength, whereas longitudinal analyses revealed an association with a change in gait speed (a measure of physical function).

This is one of the first community-based studies to look at the relationships between aortic stiffness and vascular function and age-related loss in physical function.

Dr. Sahni, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Ageing Research at Hebrew SeniorLife noted that higher aortic stiffness was associated with loss of physical function during an 11-year period. She is the Marcus Institute's Nutrition Programme Director.

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Blood flow declines with aging, in part due to arterial stiffening. Consequent dysfunction in blood vessel dynamics may contribute to organ pathology and declines in muscle mass, explains Dr. Sahni. Yet, few studies have specifically assessed the role of vascular function, and changes in functional muscle measures such as mobility and muscle strength ().

The current study utilized data from a large cohort of relatively healthy men and women and extends previous investigations by utilizing a longitudinal study design.

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The majority of previously published studies have utilized cross-sectional study designs with modest sample sizes.

Better the Blood Flow, Lower the Decline in Age-Related Physical Function

The authors believe that future studies should evaluate whether interventions that target vascular health may reduce age-related declines in physical function.

This is important because one-third of older adults experience physical limitations contributing to reduced mobility, disability, institutionalization, and mortality. Hence, there is a need for the development of novel interventions that target the prevention of physical limitations in older adults.

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