Neuromuscular Attributes are Associated with Poor Mobility in Older Adults with Vascular Risk Conditions.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Vascular Health
• Neuromuscular Physiology

Background:

• Mobility limitations in older adults are often exacerbated by vascular health conditions, termed vascular risk burden.
• The specific role of neuromuscular attributes in this mobility decline remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between vascular risk burden (diabetes, hypertension, obesity) and mobility in older adults.
• To determine if lower limb neuromuscular attributes mediate the link between vascular risk burden and mobility.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 430 older adults from the Boston RISE Study.
• Assessed mobility using Short Physical Performance Battery, gait speed, and functional mobility (Late Life Function Instrument).
• Evaluated neuromuscular attributes including leg strength, velocity, endurance, range of motion, and sensory loss.

Main Results:

• Increased vascular risk burden correlated with poorer performance on mobility tests and slower gait speed.
• Vascular risk burden was negatively associated with leg strength and knee flexion range of motion.
• Leg strength, leg velocity, and knee flexion range of motion partially mediated the association between vascular risk burden and mobility outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Neuromuscular impairments, specifically in leg strength, leg velocity, and knee range of motion, are significant factors in mobility limitations among older adults with vascular risk burden.
• These neuromuscular attributes should be considered key targets for interventions aimed at improving mobility in this demographic.