New Geriatrics and Gerontology Findings from Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare Outlined (Earlier life leisure-time physical activity in relation to age-related frailty syndrome)

2020 AUG 28 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Disease Prevention Daily -- Research findings on Aging Research - Geriatrics and Gerontology are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting from Helsinki, Finland, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “frailty syndrome is common amongst older people. Low physical activity is part of frailty, but long-term prospective studies investigating leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during the life course as a predictor of frailty are still warranted.”

Financial supporters for this research include Academy of Finland, Opetus- ja Kulttuuriministerio, Suomen Laaketieteen Saatio, Novo Nordisk Fonden, Yrjo Jahnssonin Saatio, Svenska Forskningsradet Formas, Juho Vainion Saatio, AXA Research Fund, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Jalmari ja Rauha Ahokkaan Saatio, Public Health Challenges Research Programme, La Carita Foundation, Finnish Social Insurance Institution, Ministry of Education and Culture Research Grants, Seinajoki Central Hospital and Oulu City Hospital, Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation USA, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation Sweden, Center for Innovative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet Sweden, Stiftelsen Stockholms sjukhem Sweden.

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, “The aim of this study is to investigate whether earlier life LTPA predicts frailty in older age. the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) included older adults (aged 60-77 years) from the general population who were at increased risk of cognitive decline. Frailty was assessed for 1,137 participants at a baseline visit using a modified version of Fried’s phenotype, including five criteria: weight loss, exhaustion, weakness, slowness and low physical activity. Self-reported data on earlier life LTPA were available from previous population-based studies (average follow-up time 13.6 years). A binomial logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between earlier life LTPA and pre-frailty/frailty in older age. the prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty was 0.8% and 27.3%, respectively. In the analyses, pre-frail and frail groups were combined. People who had been physically very active (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.23-0.60) or moderately active (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.32-0.65) earlier in life had lower odds of becoming pre-frail/frail than individuals who had been sedentary. frailty was rare in this relatively healthy study population, but almost a third of the participants were pre-frail. Earlier life LTPA was associated with lower levels of pre-frailty/frailty.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “The results highlight the importance of physical activity when aiming to promote healthy old age.”

For more information on this research see: Earlier life leisure-time physical activity in relation to age-related frailty syndrome. Age and Ageing, 2020;():. Age and Ageing can be contacted at: Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England. (Oxford University Press - http://www.oup.com/; Age and Ageing - ageing.oxfordjournals.org)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Satu Havulinna, Ageing, Disability and Functioning Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. Additional authors for this research include Laura Kolehmainen, Tiia Ngandu, Timo Strandberg, Esko Levalahti, Jenni Lehtisalo, Riitta Antikainen, Elina Hietikko, Markku Peltonen, Auli Polonen, Hilkka Soininen, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Tiina Laatikainen, Rainer Rauramaa, Miia Kivipelto and Je.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa132. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Publisher contact information for the journal Age and Ageing is: Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England.

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