Biological Markers in Older People at Risk of Mobility Limitations

Abstract

Due to the progressive ageing of the worldwide population, prevention and treatment of late-life dysfunctions, including functional decline and mobility limitations, represent leading targets of scientists and clinicians, but are also receiving growing attention from governments and healthcare systems. The early identification of elderly patients more prone to physical decline represents a crucial step for establishing preventive measures. Although functional capacity can easily be assessed, the use of additional criteria that anticipate the onset of mobility limitations seems much more advantageous. The most challenging issues in the identification of biological markers for assessing the risk of functional decline in the elderly originates from the complex and multifaceted pathogenesis of sarcopenia and the resulting physiological decrement, so that bridging the gap between basic research and clinical practice may appear intricate. Nevertheless, several lines of evidence now confirm the existence of negative associations between functional mobility and values of hemoglobin, total and HDL-cholesterol, vitamin D, testosterone, adiponectin and antioxidants such carotenoids, vitamin C and E, selenium and magnesium, whereas positive associations have been reported with the values of uric acid, white blood cells, plasma and blood viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), triglycerides, homocysteine, plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), markers of renal functions (i.e., creatine and cystatin C), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), as well as several inflammatory (e.g., C reactive protein, Intereleukin-6, Interleukin- 1 receptor antagonist), hemostatic (e.g., fibrinogen, Von Willebrand Factor, factors VIII and IX) and oxidative (oxidized lipoproteins, 8-oxo-7,8-2'-deoxyguanosine, protein carbonylation) biomarkers. In the foreseeable future, proteomic studies might predictably help identify novel associations between putative biomarkers and functional decline.

Circulating levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 as a potential measure of biological age in mice and frailty in humans

“…There are many prior studies correlating inflammatory biomarkers with chronological age, age‐related disease or functional decline (Charlton et al., ; Collerton et al., ; Figueroa‐Vega, Moreno‐Frias & Malacara, ; Franceschi, Monti, Sansoni & Cossarizza, ; Julian et al., ; Kleinschmidt et al., ; Lippi, Sanchis‐Gomar & Montagnana, ; Lu et al., ; Matsushima et al., ; Nadrowski et al., ; Noren Hooten, Ejiogu, Zonderman & Evans, ; Sesso et al., ). A very comprehensive study by Collerton et al.…”

Biology of Falls: Preliminary Cohort Study Suggesting a Possible Role for Oxidative Stress

“…Oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) and inflammatory (interleukin‐6 [IL‐6]) biomarkers were selected for this preliminary study based on reported associations with fall risk factors . Malondialdehyde is one of the most frequently used indicators of oxidative stress induced lipid peroxidation .…”

Molecular pathology endpoints useful for aging studies

“…Older individuals with high titers of CMV IgG and plasma IL-6 are at greater risk of frailty (Wang and Casolaro, 2014). Functional decline in humans is associated with increased plasma uric acid, WBCs, ESR, triglycerides, homocysteine, glucose, HbA1c, creatinine, cystatin C, IGF-1, fibrinogen, von Willebrand Factors VIII and IX, oxidized proteins, 8-oxodG, protein carbonylation, C-reactive protein, IL-6, and IL-1RA and decreased plasma Hgb, total cholesterol, HDL, vitamin D, testosterone, adiponectin, vitamin C and E, selenium, magnesium, and carotenoids (Lippi et al, 2014). Many of these factors increase with age in mice as well (Spaulding et al, 1997; Yamato et al, 2014).…”