Objective physical activity and physical performance in middle-aged and older adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Older adults often struggle to meet physical activity (PA) recommendations.
• A balanced ratio of PA and sedentary time (SED) is crucial for maintaining physical performance in later life.
• This study investigates the relationship between PA/SED and physical performance in non-disabled older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between physical activity levels, sedentary time, and physical performance in adults across mid-older age.
• To determine if moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total steps are independently associated with physical performance metrics.
• To explore age-specific associations between PA/SED and physical performance.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 1352 Framingham Offspring Study participants without mobility disability.
• Physical performance assessed via gait speed, chair stand time, and handgrip strength using accelerometry.
• Regression models analyzed PA (steps, MVPA) and SED, stratified by age groups and adjusted for covariates.

Main Results:

• Only 38% of adults aged 50-64 and 15% of those 75+ met PA guidelines (150 min MVPA/week).
• Individuals with ≥5 min/day MVPA showed significantly better gait speed, chair stands, and handgrip strength (women) compared to those with <5 min/day.
• For adults 75+, each 5000 additional steps/day correlated with improved gait speed (p=0.006). SED was linked to poorer performance but not significantly after MVPA adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with better physical performance in mid-older adults.
• In adults aged 75 and older, total daily steps are linked to enhanced gait speed.
• Further research is needed to understand the impact of PA on physical performance and health outcomes in advanced age.