All Current Assessment Methods for Frailty Correlate with Future Mortality
Researchers here report on the effectiveness of methods used by researchers and clinicians to assess degree of frailty in older patients. They find that all methods correlate with future mortality, but there are variances in the details of how they correlate to the risk of suffering specific age-related conditions. An optimist might take this to mean that any future rejuvenation therapy with sizable, reliable effects could be correctly categorized as a real rejuvenation therapy by applying the existing systems of testing and assessment. New biomarkers of aging would help, but they are not necessarily required. We'll find out whether or not this is the case over the next five to ten years as senolytic therapies work their way into widespread use, and the large assessment studies begin.
Frailty is common in elderly people with cardiovascular disease and goes along with elevated mortality. However, no consensus exists on the definition of frailty. Many scores have been developed to assess frailty and to make predictions on disease and mortality, but there is no gold standard. Researchers examined the predictive ability of 35 frailty scores for cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The analysis reveals that all frailty scores are associated with future mortality, and that some are linked to cardiovascular disease but none to cancer. The study underscores that the comparative evaluation of strength of associations between health outcomes in elderly people provides a solid evidence base for researchers and health professionals.
In this study, the scientists analysed frailty scores identified by a systematic literature review on their ability to predict mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Data was used from 5,294 adults aged 60 years or more and followed up over a period of seven years within the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The researchers observed that all frailty scores were associated with all-cause mortality, some were also associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease, but none were associated with cancer events. In models adjusted for demographic and clinical information, 33 out of 35 frailty scores showed significant added predictive performance for all-cause mortality. Certain scores outperform others with regard to all-cause mortality and cardiovascular health outcomes in later life. The authors specify that multidimensional frailty scores may have a more stable association with mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disorders.
Sorry, not directly related to this topic, but in general.
I just saw an article regarding "The Ryman Prize 2018". They are looking brightest people who can "focus on ways to improve the health of older people" Gee, that is a tough one (sarcasm).
Anyways, prize is $180K.
Last year it was awarded to an AD researcher, so it's really the damage repair approach.
@Antonio,
Thanks, if so, they apprear to be reactive rather than proactive, so they need to be educated apparently.
One major group of those with frailty are those who become very thin with age due to muscle wasting. Part of the problem is undoubtedly based on the use it or lose it principle, in other words, adequate lifelong daily exercise. Adequate exercise builds and maintains muscle mass and also improves the cardiovascular system, that if allowed to deteriorate kills so many of the elderly before their time. Also, mitochondrial count and health are also beneficially affected by exercise as is the epigenome by following a healthy lifestyle.
@Biotechy,
Jack Lalanne is a good example of using it or lose it. He exercised for decades (most of it in front of viewers) until his death at 90 some years old. He recently started juicing (and marketed it) over the last couple decades as well. He was ahead of his time.
So, yea, use it or lose it, at least until we have rejuv treatments.
Now I see Barbara Bush is so frail with various health conditions like COPD that she is not going to seek medical treatment any longer, but rather seek comfort at home in her final days. It seems she is no longer fighting for health treatment, but waiting for the dying of the light now.