Cardiovascular disease risk factor management may help preserve physical function as we age

This study showed that vascular measures are associated with grip strength in cross-sectional analyses and change in gait speed (a measure of physical function) in longitudinal analyses.

Higher aortic stiffness was associated with loss of physical function over ~11 years, said Dr. Sahni, who is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School .

Blood flow declines with aging, in part due to arterial stiffening. Consequent dysfunction in blood vessel dynamics may contribute to organ pathology and declines in muscle mass, explains Dr. Sahni. The current study utilized data from a large cohort of relatively healthy men and women and extends previous investigations by utilizing a longitudinal study design.

Reference:

“Association of Vascular Health Measures and Physical Function: A Prospective Analysis in the Framingham Heart Study,” was written by lead author Dr. Sahni and coauthors Alyssa B. Dufour, PhD,1 Na Wang, PhD,2 Douglas P. Kiel, MD, MPH,1 Marian T. Hannan, DSc, MPH,1 Paul F. Jacques, DSc,3 Emelia J. Benjamin, MD, ScM,4,5 Ramachandran S. Vasan, MD,4,5 Joanne M. Murabito, MD,4,5 Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH,6 Roger A. Fielding, PhD,3 Gary F. Mitchell, MD,7 Naomi M. Hamburg, MD4.