Allostatic load and physical performance in older adults: Findings from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

Matheus Lucena Germano; Cristiano Dos Santos Gomes; Juliana Fernandes de Souza Barbosa; Nailton José Neto; Daniele Sirineu Pereira; Tamer Ahmed; Carmen Lucia Curcio Borrero; Ricardo Oliveira Guerra

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2023.104961

Allostatic load and physical performance in older adults: Findings from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2023 Jun:109:104961. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.104961. Epub 2023 Feb 14.

Authors

Matheus Lucena Germano¹, Cristiano Dos Santos Gomes², Juliana Fernandes de Souza Barbosa³, Nailton José Neto⁴, Daniele Sirineu Pereira⁵, Tamer Ahmed⁶, Carmen Lucia Curcio Borrero⁷, Ricardo Oliveira Guerra⁸

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Program in Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Senador Salgado Filho Avenue, Natal, Brazil.
² Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Senador Salgado Filho Avenue, Natal, Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Physical Therapy and Collective Health, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Jornalista Aníbal Fernandes Avenue Recife, Brazil.
⁴ Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, General Cordeiro de Faria Street, Natal, Brazil.
⁵ School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Minas Gerais. Presidente Carlos Luz, 6627 - Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
⁶ School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
⁷ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Caldas, Miguel Arango Soto Building, Manizales, Colombia.
⁸ Graduate Program in Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Senador Salgado Filho Avenue, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: ricardo.guerra@ufrn.br.

PMID: 36806404
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.104961

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between Allostatic Load (AL) and physical performance scores in older adults from four cities in North and South America.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data from 1101 volunteers from three countries (Canada, Brazil, and Colombia) from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS) were used to evaluate the association between AL index and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores. Three multiple linear regression models adjusted by age, Socioeconomic Status (SES), chronic conditions, depression symptoms, and Leganés Cognitive Test (LCT) were developed to estimate the independent association between SPPB and AL. Mediation analysis with 2012 LA data and covariates was performed to access the total, direct, and indirect effects of mediation on SPPB scores from 2016.

Results: AL and SPPB were inversely associated, with older adults with high allostatic load scoring lower on SPPB (β: -0.234, Std: 0.033, p-value: <0.001). Indirect effects were evidenced between age, SES and chronic conditions with AL and SPPB scores. Chronic conditions also had a total effect on SPPB scores and were also mediated by AL. However, indirect effects of depressive symptoms and LCT on SPPB scores mediated by AL were not observed.

Conclusions: Findings from this study support that increased AL index determines worse physical performance states after full adjustments. AL has a mediator role between the number of chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, cognitive status and physical performance. Socioeconomic status also influenced physical scores mediated by the AL index.

Keywords: Allostatic load; General adaptation syndrome; Multicenter study; Physical performance.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging / psychology
Allostasis*
Chronic Disease
Cross-Sectional Studies
Geriatric Assessment
Humans
Physical Functional Performance