Diet quality in late midlife is associated with faster walking speed in later life in women, but not men

Healthy diet has been linked to better age-related physical functioning, but evidence on the relationship of overall diet quality in late midlife and clinically relevant measures of physical functioning in later life is limited. Research on potential sex differences in this relationship is scarce. The aim was to investigate the prospective association between overall diet quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 at age 60-64y and measures of walking speed seven years later, among men and women from the Insight46, a neuroscience sub-study of the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development. Diet was assessed at age 60-64y using five-day food diaries, from which total HEI-2015 was calculated. At age 69-71y, walking speed was estimated during four 10-meter walks at self-selected pace, using inertial measurement units. Multivariable linear regression models with sex as modifier, controlling for age, follow-up, lifestyle, health, social variables and physical performance were used. The final sample was 164 women and 167 men (n=331). Women had higher HEI-2015 scores and slower walking speed than men. A 10 point increase in HEI-2015 was associated with faster walking speed seven years later among women (B: 0.024, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.043), but not men. The association remained significant in the multivariable model (B: 0.021, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.040). In women in late midlife higher diet quality is associated with faster walking speed. A healthy diet in late midlife is likely to contribute towards better age-related physical capability and sex differences are likely to affect this relationship

Exercise response in Parkinson’s Disease : insights from a cross-sectional comparison with sedentary controls and a per protocol analysis of a randomised controlled trial

Objectives: To investigate the acute and adaptation cardiovascular and metabolic training responses in people with Parkinson’s (pwP). Design: 1) A cross sectional study of exercise response of pwP compared to sedentary controls,2) an interventional study of exercise training in pwP. Setting: Community leisure facilities. Participants: pwP (n=83) & sedentary controls (n=55) Interventions: Study (1) included participants from a two arm parallel single blind phase II Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT), that undertook a baseline maximal incremental exercise test and study (2) included those randomised to the exercise group in the RCT, who completed a six-month weekly exercise programme (n=37). The intervention (study (2) was a prescribed exercise program consisting of sessions lasting 60 minutes, twice a week over a six-month period. The control group followed the same protocol which derived the same cardio respiratory parameters, except the they were instructed to aim for a cadence of ~60rpm and the unloaded phase lasted 3minutes with an initial step of 25watts. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Stepwise incremental exercise test to volitional exhaustion was the primary outcome measure. Results: Study (1) showed higher maximum values for heart rate, VO2l.min-1, VCO2l.min-1 and Ventilation l.min-1 for the control group; Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), perceived exertion and O2 Pulse (VO2l.min-1/ HR) did not differ between groups. In study (2), for pwP who adhered to training (n=37), RER increased significantly and although there was no significant change in aerobic capacity or heart rate response, reduced blood pressure was found. Conclusions: An abnormal cardiovascular response to exercise was observed in pwP compared to controls. After the exercise programme, metabolic deficiencies remained for pwP. These observations add to the pathogenic understanding of PD, acknowledge an underling metabolic contribution and support that certain cardiovascular symptoms may improve as a result of this type of exercise Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT01439022)

The effect of breaking sitting time with physical activity breaks on cognitive performance in young people with cerebral palsy : an exposure response cross-over feasibility design

Objectives. To assess the feasibility of methods and estimate the potential effect of interrupting sedentary behaviour, with intermittent or continuous physical activity breaks, on cognitive performance in young people with Cerebral Palsy. Methods. A randomised three-arm exposure response cross-over design with process evaluation. Participants were recruited throughout the Thames Valley, UK between 01/11/2018 to 31/03/2020. The three 2 h activity exposure visits included: (i) sitting only (controls), (ii) sitting plus 20 min of moderate-to-vigorous activity burst, or (iii) 4×5 min of moderate-to-vigorous activity bursts, during a 2.5 h sedentary session. Measures of feasibility were sought. Cognitive performance outcomes (using the Eriksen Flanker task and Forward and Backward Digit Span) were delivered before and after the 2 h testing period. Results. 36 participants were randomised (age 13.2±2.7, Gross-Motor Functional Classification System 1–3). Study retention was 83 % across all three interventions and overall missing data for measures was 4 %. A small intervention effect was found in reaction time in the 4×5 min physical activity exposure session compared to the sedentary control condition (0.42; 95 % CI 0.40 to 0.79). There were two research-related minor adverse effects, an allergic reaction to the FreeStyle Libre and feeling faint and vomiting after consumption of glucose solution. Both events were resolved and participants continued with the study. Conclusions. The study design and intervention implementing short bursts of physical activity was feasible and indicated a potential effect on reaction time as a measure of cognitive performance in young people with cerebral palsy