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Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model
Published on: September 23, 2025
Allostatic load and frailty in older adults
Tara L Gruenewald1, Teresa E Seeman, Arun S Karlamangla
1Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 10945 LeConte Ave, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. tgruenewald@mednet.ucla.edu
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|August 18, 2009
Summary
Higher allostatic load (AL), a measure of physiological dysregulation, is linked to an increased risk of developing frailty in older adults. This study highlights AL as a potential early warning sign for frailty.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Physiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Allostatic load (AL) reflects multisystem physiological dysregulation.
- Frailty is a significant concern in aging populations, characterized by decreased resilience and increased vulnerability.
- Understanding predictors of frailty is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between allostatic load (AL) and the development of frailty.
- To examine this relationship over a 3-year period in a cohort of older adults.
- To determine if physiological dysregulation predicts future frailty.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal cohort study of 803 community-dwelling, high-functioning adults aged 70-79.
- Allostatic load (AL) assessed using 13 biomarkers across cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and metabolic systems.
- Frailty status determined by five indicators: weight loss, exhaustion, weak grip, slow gait, and low physical activity.
Main Results:
- Each 1-unit increase in baseline allostatic load (AL) was associated with a 10% greater likelihood of frailty at 3-year follow-up.
- This association remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and behavioral factors.
- The cumulative adjusted odds ratio for frailty was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.03-1.19).
Conclusions:
- Multisystem physiological dysregulation, indicated by higher allostatic load (AL), is associated with an increased risk of frailty development.
- Elevated allostatic load may serve as a predictive marker for frailty in older adults.
- These findings support the physiological basis of frailty and emphasize the importance of monitoring systemic dysregulation.
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