02568nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245010600055210006900161260001600230520182300246100002202069700002402091700001702115700002102132700002302153700001602176700002002192700001802212700002102230700001802251700002102269856003602290 2024 eng d a1758-535X00aAssociations of Neurological Biomarkers in Serum with Gait Measures: The Cardiovascular Health Study.0 aAssociations of Neurological Biomarkers in Serum with Gait Measu c2024 Feb 093 a

BACKGROUND: Gait impairment leads to increased mobility decline and may have neurological contributions. This study explores how neurological biomarkers are related to gait in older adults.

METHODS: We studied participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort of older Americans, who underwent a serum biomarker assessment from samples collected in 1996-97 for neurofilament light-chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), and total tau (n=1959, mean age=78.0 years, 60.8% female). In a subsample (n=380), cross-sectional associations with quantitative gait measures were explored. This subsample was assessed on a mat for gait speed, step length, double support time, step time, step length variability and step time variability. Gait speed was also measured over a 15-ft walkway annually from 1996-97 to 1998-99, for longitudinal analyses. Linear regression models assessed cross-sectional associations of biomarkers with gait measures, while mixed effects models assessed longitudinal gait speed change from baseline to 1998-99.

RESULTS: NfL was significantly associated with annual gait speed decline (standardized β = -0.64 m/s, 95% CI: [-1.23, -0.06]) after adjustment for demographic and health factors. Among gait mat-assessed phenotypes, NfL was also cross-sectionally associated with gait speed (β = 0.001 m/s [0.0003, 0.002]) but not with other gait measures. None of the remaining biomarkers were significantly related to gait in either longitudinal or cross-sectional analyses.

CONCLUSION: Higher NfL levels were related to greater annual gait speed decline. Gait speed decline may be related to axonal degeneration. The clinical utility of NfL should be explored.

1 aNadkarni, Abhijay1 aMukamal, Kenneth, J1 aZhu, Xiaonan1 aSiscovick, David1 aBrach, Jennifer, S1 aJacob, Mini1 aSeshadri, Sudha1 aAbe, Temidayo1 aRosano, Caterina1 aDjoussé, Luc1 aRosso, Andrea, L uhttps://chs-nhlbi.org/node/961402836nas a2200193 4500008004100000022001400041245011400055210006900169260001300238300001100251490000600262520224100268100002102509700001702530700002102547700001702568700002102585856003602606 2025 eng d a2398-883500aJoint Pain and Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Cross-Sectional Findings From the Cardiovascular Health Study.0 aJoint Pain and LeisureTime Physical Activity CrossSectional Find c2025 Feb ae703670 v83 a

BACKGROUND: Joint pain is common and limits leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in older adults. However, some older adults with pain are also physically active. Psychosocial factors that may indicate external engagement (such as social network) and internal drive (such as feeling able to "get going") are emerging as predictors of LTPA and may explain why some older adults with pain are physically active.

METHODS: We investigated the cross-sectional association of psychosocial factors with LTPA (kcal/week) in adults over the age of 64 with pain in their back, hips, knees and/or feet from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Psychosocial factors included: social network score from the Lubben Social Network scale and three questions from the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D): perceived effort, difficulty getting going, and trouble concentrating. Separate multivariable ordinal regression models estimated the association between these indicators and LTPA, while controlling for demographics and other contributors of LTPA: number of medications, number of pain sites, body mass index, gait speed, digit substitution symbol test, brain white matter hyperintensities, and mood.

RESULTS: Among 902 participants (65% female, 14% Non-White) with joint pain and complete data, higher social network score, and no self-reported "difficulty getting going" were associated with higher levels of LTPA, independent of covariates. Associations with perceived effort or trouble concentrating were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Our research suggests that some older adults with pain are physically active and psychosocial factors related to external engagement and internal drive might be important targets to support LTPA. Studies should investigate the role of psychosocial states on LTPA among older adults with pain.

IMPACT STATEMENT: We certify that this work is novel.The potential impact of this research on clinical care includes the following: Resiliency factors such as psychosocial factors may be more important targets to promote leisure-time physical activity in older adults with pain than specific pain reduction strategies.

1 aWitonsky, Kailyn1 aZhu, Xiaonan1 aRosso, Andrea, L1 aNewman, Anne1 aRosano, Caterina uhttps://chs-nhlbi.org/node/9915