For researchers

Predictive validity of a two-step tool to map frailty in primary care

J.A.L. van Kempen, H.J. Schers, I. Philp et al.

BMC Medicine 2015;13:287

EASY-Care Two step Older people Screening (EASY-Care TOS) is a stepped approach to identify frail older people at risk for negative health outcomes in primary care, and makes use of General Practitioners’ (GPs) readily-available information. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of EASY-Care TOS for negative health outcomes within the year from assessment.
GPs applying the EASY-Care TOS procedure, where they only perform additional assessment when they judge this as necessary, can efficiently predict negative health outcomes in their older populations. Moreover, this evaluation is almost as accurate as a complete specialist comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA).

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Effects of physical exercise interventions in frail older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

C. de Labra, C. Guimaraes-Pinheiro, A. Maseda, et al.

BMC Geriatrics. 2015;15:154

Physical exercise has demonstrated its beneficial effects in reducing the risk of many adverse outcomes, such as frailty. The major goal of this systematic review of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) was to investigate the benefits of exercise programs in frail elderly people, considering only those studies where frailty had been defined.
This systematic review suggested that frail older adults seemed to benefit from exercise interventions, although the optimal program remains unclear.

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Myostatin antibody (LY2495655) in older weak fallers: a proof-of-concept, randomised, phase 2 trial

C. Becker, S.R. Lord, S.A. Studenski, et al.

Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2015;3:948-957

Myostatin inhibits skeletal muscle growth. The humanised monoclonal antibody LY2495655 (LY) binds and neutralises myostatin. This study aimed to test whether LY increases appendicular lean body mass (aLBM) and improves physical performance in older individuals who have had recent falls and low muscle strength and power. At 24 weeks, the least-squares mean change in aLBM was -0.123 kg in the placebo group and 0.303 kg in the LY group (P < 0.0001). This results show LY treatment increases lean mass and might improve functional measures of muscle power.

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Association of habitual dietary resveratrol exposure with the development of frailty in older age: the Invecchiare in Chianti study

M. Rabassa, R. Zamora-Ros, M. Urpi-Sarda, et al.

Am J Clin Nutr 2015;102:1534–42

Resveratrol may play a protective role against the frailty syndrome (FS) because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study has prospectively evaluated the association between habitual dietary resveratrol exposure and the development of FS after 3-, 6-, and 9-years follow-up periods in a community-dwelling older population.
This study has shown that higher habitual dietary resveratrol exposure was associated with lower risk of older community dwellers developing FS during the first 3 years of follow-up but not after longer follow-up periods.

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Accelerometer-determined physical activity, muscle mass, and leg strength in community-dwelling older adults

Y.C. Foong, N. Chherawala, D. Aitken et al.

J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2015 Oct 15. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12065. [Epub ahead of print]

The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between accelerometer-determined physical activity (PA), muscle mass, and lower-limb strength in community-dwelling older adults.
Using accelerometer technology, both the amount and intensity of accelerometer-determined PA had an independent, dose-response relationship with lean mass percentage and lower limb strength, with the largest effect for vigorous activity. Time spent in sedentary activity was negatively associated with lean mass percentage, but was not associated with lower limb strength. The magnitude of the association between PA and lean mass percentage decreased with age.

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Association of Hearing Impairment With Incident Frailty and Falls in Older Adults.

R.J. Kamil, J. Betz, B. Brott Powers et al.

Journal of Aging and Health. 2015

The hearing impairment (HI) is highly prevalent but undertreated in older adults and, although it contributes to frailty risk, it remains poorly studied.
This study aimed at determining whether HI in older adults is associated with the development of frailty and falls.
This study demonstrate that moderate or greater HI is associated with increased risk of developing frailty and that HI is associated with an increased annual risk of falling.

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