Glucose Trajectory: More than Changing Glucose Tolerance with Age?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Metabolic Health
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Glucose tolerance naturally declines with age.
• Individual responses to age-related glucose changes vary, with some progressing to diabetes and others not.
• Elevated glucose, especially progressive deterioration, is linked to other health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and clarify the concept of glucose trajectories in aging.
• To highlight inconsistencies in defining glucose trajectories.
• To identify future research directions in glucose metabolism and diabetes risk.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on age-related glucose control deterioration.
• Analysis of mathematical modeling approaches for glucose trajectories (fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, oral glucose tolerance tests).
• Consideration of genetic factors, AI, and discrepancies in risk prediction measures.

Main Results:

• Multiple glucose trajectories exist, often identified by longitudinal fasting plasma glucose changes.
• Trajectories based on glycated hemoglobin or oral glucose tolerance tests are less understood.
• Conflicting definitions of glucose trajectory complicate research.

Conclusions:

• Understanding diverse glucose trajectories is crucial for predicting diabetes and associated morbidities.
• Further research is needed to standardize definitions and improve risk prediction models.
• Integrating genetic, AI, and varied glycemic measures may enhance predictive accuracy.