Brain-Predicted Age Difference Moderates the Association Between Muscle Strength and Mobility
Brooke A Vaughan1,2, Janet E Simon1,3, Dustin R Grooms1,2,3
1Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI), Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|February 17, 2022
Summary
Leg strength is a stronger predictor of mobility in older adults with a greater brain-predicted age difference. This suggests brain aging influences how strength impacts mobility.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroimaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Mobility limitations affect approximately 35% of adults over 70.
- Muscle weakness is a known contributor to mobility decline in older adults.
- Brain-predicted age difference (BPAD) offers an index of biological brain health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the moderating effect of brain-predicted age difference (BPAD) on the relationship between leg strength and mobility.
- To explore how biological brain age influences the association between physical strength and functional mobility in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Assessed isokinetic leg extensor strength and a composite mobility score (MBA) in 57 community-dwelling older adults.
- Calculated brain-predicted age (BPA) from T1 MR images using machine learning.
- Analyzed the moderating effect of BPAD (BPA minus chronological age) using correlation and regression.
Main Results:
- Leg strength correlated significantly with BPAD (r = -0.317, p < 0.05) and MBA score (r = 0.541, p < 0.001).
- BPAD significantly moderated the strength-mobility relationship, explaining 7.0% of MBA variance (△R² = 0.044, p = 0.01).
- Leg strength was a stronger predictor of mobility in individuals with a greater BPAD.
Conclusions:
- Brain aging influences the relationship between strength and mobility in older adults.
- Leg strength may compensate for neural integrity decline in the context of brain aging.
- Findings highlight the interplay between neurological and physical factors in maintaining mobility.
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