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Mobility and cognition: End points for dietary interventions in aging

Issue title: Selected papers from the 42nd Annual American Aging Association Pre-conference on Aging and Nutrition, Baltimore, MD, USA

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Miller, Marshall G.; | Hamilton, Derek A. | Joseph, James A. | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Affiliations: Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA | United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Services, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA | University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Barbara Shukitt-Hale, Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory, USDA HNRCA at Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Tel.: +1 617 556 3118; Fax: +1 617 556 3299; E-mail: barbara.shukitthale@ars.usda.gov

Keywords: Aging, postural balance, gait, mobility limitation, cognition, executive function, learning, maze learning, diet therapy

DOI: 10.3233/NUA-140046

Journal: Nutrition and Aging, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 213-222, 2014

Published: 2014
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Healthy aging is associated with functional declines in mobility and cognition among both humans and non-human animals. OBJECTIVE: This study combines human measures of mobility and cognition to develop a test battery for evaluating the effects of dietary supplements among older adults. Selected measures parallel behavior tasks used to assess the efficacy of dietary interventions in rodent models of aging. METHODS: Seventy six healthy adults, between the ages of 21 and 75, completed a 1 hour mobility and cognition assessment. Postural sway and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured using a Zebris™ instrumented treadmill system. A computer-based virtual water maze and the trail-making test were used to assess spatial memory and executive function, respectively. RESULTS: Sway velocity during quiet standing increased with age. Preferred gait speed declined with age and changes in the gait cycle reveal an age-related increase in total double support during normal walking. In the virtual water maze, latency to locate a hidden or visible platform increased with age; meanwhile, probe test performance declined with age. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy adults show age-related declines in measures of mobility and cognition. These measures are a useful tool for translating research on dietary interventions to older adults.