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Chronic inflammation is associated with low physical function in older adults across multiple comorbidities
Tina E Brinkley1, Xiaoyan Leng, Michael E Miller
1Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. tbrinkle@wfubmc.edu
Summary
Chronic inflammation, indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), is linked to reduced physical function in older adults. This association persists across various health conditions and diseases.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Inflammation Research
- Physical Function Studies
Background:
- Chronic subclinical inflammation is a potential contributor to physical function decline in aging populations.
- Further research is needed to establish inflammation as a common mechanism for functional impairment, irrespective of disease or health status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between inflammatory biomarkers and physical function in older adults with comorbidities.
- To determine if inflammation is an independent predictor of functional decline.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 542 older adults (≥55 years) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, high cardiovascular risk, or physical disability.
- Assessment of physical function via grip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 4-m walk, and repeated chair stands.
- Measurement of inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).
Main Results:
- Higher levels of CRP and IL-6, but not TNF-alpha, correlated with lower grip strength and SPPB scores.
- Elevated CRP and IL-6 were associated with slower performance in the 4-m walk and repeated chair stands tests.
- These associations remained significant even after adjusting for age, gender, race, and disease status, and were largely unaffected by body composition adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Elevated CRP and IL-6 levels are associated with poorer physical function in older adults with comorbidities.
- Chronic subclinical inflammation may serve as a marker for functional limitations in older individuals across diverse health conditions.
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