Blood proteins linked to declines in thinking and walking
An observational study tracked 774 adults aged 60 or older for up to 15 years, linking eight proteins to different patterns of decline.
Limit: Protein measurements were limited to baseline, missing changes during thinking and walking declines
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
Researchers studied 774 adults aged 60 or older from the Invecchiare in Chianti cohort in an observational study. They measured 1,301 proteins in plasma, the liquid part of blood, at the start. Using up to 15 years of data from a test of overall thinking ability and walking speed over four meters, they identified three groups: no decline, physical decline alone, and decline in both.
After statistical adjustments, eight proteins were associated with differences across the groups. Higher levels of six were linked to greater odds of dual decline, while higher levels of two were linked to lower odds. The authors described the dual-decline group’s overall protein profile as marked by cellular stress, inflammation and strain on the cardiovascular system and metabolism.
Why it matters
Declines in thinking and physical performance together are linked to dementia risk. Understanding their shared biology may help clarify how these changes become connected in later life.
Caveats
This observational analysis used baseline protein measurements and could not establish cause and effect. The findings came from adults aged 60 or older in one cohort, and the authors called for replication.
