Journal of Gerontology 

About: Journal of Gerontology is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Poison control. It has an ISSN identifier of 0022-1422. Over the lifetime, 4295 publications have been published receiving 244034 citations.

Aging: A Theory Based on Free Radical and Radiation Chemistry

Abstract: The phenomenon of growth, decline and death—aging—has been the source of considerable speculation (1, 8, 10). This cycle seems to be a more or less direct function of the metabolic rate and this in turn depends on the species (animal or plant) on which are superimposed the factors of heredity and the effects of the stresses and strains of life—which alter the metabolic activity. The universality of this phenomenon suggests that the reactions which cause it are basically the same in all living things. Viewing this process in the light of present day free radical and radiation chemistry and of radiobiology, it seems possible that one factor in aging may be related to deleterious side attacks of free radicals (which are normally produced in the course of cellular metabolism) on cell constituents.* Irradiation of living things induces mutation, cancer, and aging (9). Inasmuch as these also arise spontaneously in nature, it is natural to inquire if the processes might not be similar. It is believed that one mechanism of irradiation effect is through liberation of OH and HO 2 radicals (12). There is evidence, although indirect, that these two highly active free radicals are produced normally in living systems. In the first place, free radicals are present in living cells; this was recently demonstrated in vivo by a paramagnetic resonance absorption method (3). Further, it was shown that the concentration of free radicals increased with increasing metabolic activity in conformity with the postulates set forth some years ago that free radicals were involved in biologic oxidation-reduction reactions (11, 13). Are some of these free radicals OH and/or HO2, or radicals of a similar high order of reactivity, and where might they arise in the cell? The most likely source of OH and HO2 radicals, at least in the animal cell, would be the interaction of the respiratory enzymes involved

A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function: association with self-reported disability and prediction of mortality and nursing home admission.

Abstract: Background A short battery of physical performance tests was used to assess lower extremity function in more than 5,000 persons age 71 years and older in three communities. Methods Balance, gait, strength, and endurance were evaluated by examining ability to stand with the feet together in the side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem positions, time to walk 8 feet, and time to rise from a chair and return to the seated position 5 times. Results A wide distribution of performance was observed for each test. Each test and a summary performance scale, created by summing categorical rankings of performance on each test, were strongly associated with self-report of disability. Both self-report items and performance tests were independent predictors of short-term mortality and nursing home admission in multivariate analyses. However, evidence is presented that the performance tests provide information not available from self-report items. Of particular importance is the finding that in those at the high end of the functional spectrum, who reported almost no disability, the performance test scores distinguished a gradient of risk for mortality and nursing home admission. Additionally, within subgroups with identical self-report profiles, there were systematic differences in physical performance related to age and sex. Conclusion This study provides evidence that performance measures can validly characterize older persons across a broad spectrum of lower extremity function. Performance and self-report measures may complement each other in providing useful information about functional status.

Functional reach a new clinical measure of balance

Abstract: A new clinically accessible measure of balance, functional reach (FR), is the difference between arm's length and maximal forward reach, using a fixed base of support. The purposes of this study were to (a) establish FR as a measure of the margin of stability versus the laboratory measure, center of pressure excursion (COPE); (b) test reliability and precision, and (c) determine factors that influence FR, including age and anthropometrics. We evaluated FR in 128 volunteers (age 21-87 years). FR was determined with a precise electronic device and a simple clinical apparatus (yardstick). FR correlates with COPE (Pearson r = .71) and is precise (coefficient of variation = 2.5%) and stable (intraclass correlation coefficient across days = .81). Age and height influence FR. FR is portable, inexpensive, reliable, precise, and a reasonable clinical approximator of the margin of stability. FR may be useful for detecting balance impairment, change in balance performance over time, and in the design of modified environments for impaired older persons.

Measurement of Functional Activities in Older Adults in the Community

Abstract: Two measures of social function designed for community studies of normal aging and mild senile dementia were evaluated in 195 older adults who underwent neurological, cognitive, and affective assessment. An examining and a reviewing neurologist and a neurologically trained nurse independently rated each on a Scale of Functional Capacity. Interrater reliability was high (examining vs. reviewing neurologist, r = .97; examining neurologist vs. nurse, tau b = .802; p less than .001 for both comparisons). Estimates correlated well with an established measure of social function and with results of cognitive tests. Alternate informants evaluated participants on the Functional Activities Questionnaire and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. The Functional Activities Questionnaire was superior to the Instrumental Activities of Daily scores. Used alone as a diagnostic tool, the Functional Activities Questionnaire was more sensitive than distinguishing between normal and demented individuals.