02876nas a2200361 4500008004100000022001400041245009900055210006900154260001500223300001400238490000700252520187000259653000902129653002202138653002502160653001102185653002502196653001102221653000902232653001702241653001702258653001202275653001802287100002102305700002202326700002402348700002002372700002402392700002102416700002102437700002002458856003602478 2020 eng d a1758-535X00aMetabolites Associated with Walking Ability Among the Oldest Old from the CHS All Stars Study.0 aMetabolites Associated with Walking Ability Among the Oldest Old c2020 11 13 a2371-23780 v753 a

BACKGROUND: Low walking ability is highly prevalent with advancing age and predicts major health outcomes. Metabolomics may help to better characterize differences in walking ability among older adults, providing insight into potentially altered molecular processes underlying age-related decline in functioning. We sought to identify metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with high versus low walking ability among 120 participants ages 79-95 from the CHS All Stars study.

METHODS: Using a nested case-control design, 60 randomly selected participants with low walking ability were matched one-to-one on age, gender, race, and fasting time with 60 participants with high walking ability. High versus low walking ability was defined as being in the best versus worst tertiles for both gait speed (≥0.9 vs <0.7 m/s) and the Walking Ability Index (7-9 vs 0-1). Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, 569 metabolites were identified in overnight-fasting plasma.

RESULTS: Ninety-six metabolites were associated with walking ability, where 24% were triacylglycerols. Triacylglycerols that were higher among those with high walking ability consisted mostly of polyunsaturated fatty acids, whereas triacylglycerols that were lower among those with high walking ability consisted mostly of saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids. Body composition partly explained associations between some metabolites and walking ability. Proline and arginine metabolism was a top pathway associated with walking ability.

CONCLUSION: These results may partly reflect pathways of modifiable risk factors, including excess dietary lipids and lack of physical activity, contributing to obesity and further alterations in metabolic pathways that lead to age-related decline in walking ability in this older adult cohort.

10aAged10aAged, 80 and over10aCase-Control Studies10aFemale10aGeriatric Assessment10aHumans10aMale10aMetabolomics10aRisk Factors10aWalking10aWalking Speed1 aMarron, Megan, M1 aWendell, Stacy, G1 aBoudreau, Robert, M1 aClish, Clary, B1 aSantanasto, Adam, J1 aTseng, George, C1 aZmuda, Joseph, M1 aNewman, Anne, B uhttps://chs-nhlbi.org/node/8655