Plasma metabolomic profiling and functional disability in older adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Metabolomics
• Public Health

Background:

• Functional disability is a significant public health issue in older adults, predicting adverse outcomes.
• The relationship between metabolomic profiles and functional disability is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between plasma metabolomic profiles and functional disability in older adults.
• To identify potential early biomarkers for functional decline.

Main Methods:

• The study included 1450 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older.
• Plasma metabolites were measured using high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
• Disability was assessed using the Katz Index (ADL) and Lawton-Brody Scale (IADL), with analyses using Firth logistic regression for cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.

Main Results:

• Cross-sectionally, tyrosine, pyruvate, and lactate were associated with lower odds of ADL disability, while glycine and Glycoprotein A (GlycA) were linked to higher odds.
• Longitudinally, increased lactate predicted greater ADL disability after five years, whereas creatinine was associated with lower odds of both ADL and IADL disability.
• Incident disability analyses showed that higher creatinine and citrate predicted lower odds of ADL disability, and GlycA remained associated with higher odds of IADL disability.

Conclusions:

• Several plasma metabolites show potential as early biomarkers for functional decline in older adults.
• These findings could inform the development of targeted prevention strategies for functional disability.