Timing of objectively-collected physical activity in relation to body weight and metabolic health in sedentary older people: a cross-sectional and prospective analysis.

Background: Little is known about the impact of timing as opposed to frequency and intensity of daily physical activity on metabolic health. Therefore, we assessed the association between accelerometery-based daily timing of physical activity and measures of metabolic health in sedentary older people.

Methods: Hourly mean physical activity derived from wrist-worn accelerometers over a 6-day period was collected at baseline and after 3 months in sedentary participants from the Active and Healthy Ageing study.

Differential insulin sensitivity of NMR-based metabolomic measures in a two-step hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study.

Background: Insulin is the key regulator of glucose metabolism, but it is difficult to dissect direct insulin from glucose-induced effects. We aimed to investigate the effects of hyperinsulemia on metabolomic measures under euglycemic conditions in nondiabetic participants.

Methods: We assessed concentrations of 151 metabolomic measures throughout a two-step hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp procedure.

High Adiposity Is Associated With Higher Nocturnal and Diurnal Glycaemia, but Not With Glycemic Variability in Older Individuals Without Diabetes.

Background: It is well known that adiposity is a risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the associations of measures of adiposity with indices of glycemia and of glycemic variability over a 72-h period in non-diabetic older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in non-diabetic individuals from the Active and Healthy Aging Study ( = 228), Switchbox ( = 116), and the Growing Old Together Study ( = 94).

An Internet-Based Physical Activity Intervention to Improve Quality of Life of Inactive Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Increasing physical activity is a viable strategy for improving both the health and quality of life of older adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess if an Internet-based intervention aimed to increase physical activity was effective in improving quality of life of inactive older adults. In addition, we analyzed the effect of the intervention on quality of life among those participants who successfully reached their individually targeted increase in daily physical activity as indicated by the intervention program, as well as the dose-response effect of increasing physical activity on quality of life.

Association between the rs7903146 Polymorphism in the TCF7L2 Gene and Parameters Derived with Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Individuals without Diabetes.

Background: The rs7903146-T allele in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene has been associated with impaired pancreatic insulin secretion, enhanced liver glucose production, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, the impact of rs7903146 on daily glucose trajectories remains unclear. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can estimate glycemia and glycemic variability based on consecutive glucose measurements collected over several days.

Dose-response effects of a Web-based physical activity program on body composition and metabolic health in inactive older adults: additional analyses of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Low physical activity is a major risk factor for several age-related diseases. Recently, we showed in a randomized controlled trial that a 12-week Web-based intervention (Philips DirectLife) to increase physical activity was effective in increasing physical activity levels and metabolic health in an inactive population aged 60-70 years.

Objective: The goal of this paper was to assess how many participants successfully reached the physical activity level as targeted by the intervention and what the effects of the intervention on body composition and metabolic health in these successful individuals were to provide insight in the maximum attainable effect of the intervention.

Renal function in familial longevity: the Leiden Longevity Study.

Studying renal function in subjects with a familial propensity for longevity may provide insight in (un)known mechanisms that determine the age-related decline in renal function of normal subjects. In the Leiden Longevity Study, middle-aged offspring of non-agenarian siblings and their partners as environmentally matched controls were included. Information was collected on lifestyle, medical history, medication use, and a non-fasting blood sample was drawn.

Effects of a web-based intervention on physical activity and metabolism in older adults: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Lack of physical activity leads to detrimental changes in body composition and metabolism, functional decline, and increased risk of disease in old age. The potential of Web-assisted interventions for increasing physical activity and improving metabolism in older individuals holds great promise but to our knowledge it has not been studied.

Objective: The goal of our study was to assess whether a Web-based intervention increases physical activity and improves metabolic health in inactive older adults.

Ambulant 24-h glucose rhythms mark calendar and biological age in apparently healthy individuals.

Glucose metabolism marks health and disease and is causally inferred in the aging process. Ambulant continuous glucose monitoring provides 24-h glucose rhythms under daily life conditions. We aimed to describe ambulant 24-h glucose rhythms measured under daily life condition in relation to calendar and biological age in apparently healthy individuals.

Responsiveness of the innate immune system and glucose concentrations in the oldest old.

Patients with diabetes mellitus show increased risk of infectious disease as well as disturbances in innate immunity. In critical care settings, hyperglycemia is associated with increased risk of sepsis. It is unclear whether elevated glucose concentrations and innate immunity are associated in a non-clinical setting.

Homocysteine and familial longevity: the Leiden Longevity Study.

Homocysteine concentrations are a read-out of methionine metabolism and have been related to changes in lifespan in animal models. In humans, high homocysteine concentrations are an important predictor of age related disease. We aimed to explore the association of homocysteine with familial longevity by testing whether homocysteine is lower in individuals that are genetically enriched for longevity.

Serum triiodothyronine levels and inflammatory cytokine production capacity.

Increasing evidence suggests that pro-inflammatory cytokines are at play in lowering peripheral thyroid hormone levels during critical illness. Conversely, thyroid hormones have been suggested to enhance production of inflammatory cytokines. In view of these considerations, we hypothesized a mutual association between triiodothyronine and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

C-reactive protein and glucose regulation in familial longevity.

Earlier, we showed that the offspring from exceptionally long-lived families have a more favorable glucose metabolism when compared with controls. As chronic low-grade inflammation has been regarded as a strong risk factor for insulin resistance, we evaluated if and to what extent the favorable glucose metabolism in offspring from long-lived families could be explained by differences in subclinical inflammation, as estimated from circulating levels of C-reactive protein. We found no difference between the two groups in C-reactive protein levels or in the distribution of C-reactive protein haplotypes.

Polymorphisms associated with type 2 diabetes in familial longevity: The Leiden Longevity Study.

Human longevity is in part genetically determined, and the insulin/IGF-1 signal transduction (IIS) pathway has consistently been implicated. In humans, type 2 diabetes is a frequent disease that results from loss of glucose homeostasis and for which new candidate polymorphisms now rapidly emerge from genome wide association studies. In the Leiden Longevity Study (n=2415), the offspring of long lived siblings ("offspring") who are genetically enriched for longevity were shown to have a more beneficial metabolic profile compared to their environmentally matched partners ("controls"), including better glucose tolerance.

An unopposed proinflammatory response is beneficial for survival in the oldest old. Results of the Leiden 85-plus Study.

The capacity to generate an efficient innate immune response is pivotal for survival. The objective of this study was to investigate innate immune function in relation to long-term survival in the oldest old. We measured ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokine responses in 562 participants aged 85 years of the general population who were followed for mortality during 10 years.

Familial longevity is marked by enhanced insulin sensitivity.

Insulin resistance is a risk factor for various age-related diseases. In the Leiden Longevity study, we recruited long-lived siblings and their offspring. Previously, we showed that, compared to controls, the offspring of long-lived siblings had a better glucose tolerance.

Favorable glucose tolerance and lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in offspring without diabetes mellitus of nonagenarian siblings: the Leiden longevity study.

Objectives: To explore measures of metabolic syndrome and glucose metabolism in families with exceptional longevity.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: A university hospital in Leiden, the Netherlands.