Publications by authors named "Douglas Kiel"
Background: Bones and muscles are connected anatomically, and functionally. Preliminary evidence has shown the gut microbiome influences the aging process of bone and muscle in animal studies. However, such evidence in humans is still scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUsing a modified Delphi process, we engaged 28 experts in clinical trials, geriatrics, and research translation to determine if there were consensus around what clinical endpoints should be used for trials evaluating the efficacy of interventions to prevent or treat multiple age-related conditions. Four focus groups developed themes. Statements related to those themes were circulated back to participants in a survey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease relies on accurate risk assessment using scores such as the Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) and PREVENT. However, necessary input variables for these scores are often unavailable in the electronic health record (EHR), and information from routinely collected data (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fracture risk was estimated in an international meta-analysis of individual-level data from 29 prospective cohorts. RA was associated with an increased fracture risk in men and women, and these data will be used to update FRAX®.
Introduction: RA is a well-documented risk factor for subsequent fracture that is incorporated into the FRAX algorithm.
Background: High psychological resilience is associated with improved functional outcomes for older adults recovering from hip fracture. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with increased psychological resilience in older women after hip fracture.
Methods: 129 women aged ≥65 years with recent surgically-repaired hip fracture were enrolled in a trial of exercise and testosterone therapy.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effect of low-magnitude mechanical signals (LMMS) on preserving bone mineral density (BMD) in malnourished adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa over a 6-month period.
- A total of 837 female adolescents were screened, with 317 qualifying for the trial, and 40 participants completed it, using a placebo-controlled approach for the intervention.
- Results showed no significant changes in total volumetric BMD between the LMMS and placebo groups, though some positive changes were observed in cross-sectional area at the tibia site in the LMMS group.
Article Synopsis
- Vertebral compression fractures (VFs) and spinal degeneration are prevalent causes of back pain in older adults, with this study exploring their connection through longitudinal data from the Framingham Heart Study.
- The research found that individuals with existing VFs experienced a greater change in intervertebral disc height narrowing (DHN) over time, although the difference diminished after adjusting for various factors like age and body mass index.
- For facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA), there was a slight increase in the change of symptoms among participants with VFs, particularly those with severe fractures, suggesting that VFs could contribute to worsening spine osteoarthritis.
Article Synopsis
- A study examined the effects of providing vascular imaging results on diet and cardiovascular disease risk factors in 240 participants aged 60-80 with abdominal aortic calcification.
- Participants were randomly assigned to receive (intervention group) or not receive (control group) their calcification results while both groups received educational resources.
- The results showed no significant changes in fruit and vegetable intake, but the intervention group had lower cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease risk scores after 12 weeks compared to the control group.
Article Synopsis
- Biomarkers of aging (BOA) are special measurements that can help scientists understand how old someone is on a biological level and how this changes with treatments.
- Recently, many new BOA have been discovered that could really help people live healthier lives as they age, but there are some problems getting these ideas into actual medical practice.
- Experts found six main challenges that are stopping BOA from being used more widely and suggested ways to make them better, such as ensuring they are easy to access and useful for everyone.
Short-term risk of fracture is increased by deficits in cortical and trabecular bone microarchitecture independent of DXA BMD and FRAX: Bone Microarchitecture International Consortium (BoMIC) prospective cohorts.
Marine Sarfati Roland Chapurlat Alyssa B Dufour Elisabeth Sornay-Rendu Blandine Merle Douglas P Kiel
J Bone Miner Res
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- Identifying individuals at risk for short-term fractures is critical, as many fractures happen in those without osteoporosis, and researchers studied bone microarchitecture's role in predicting these risks.
- In a study of over 7,000 participants, they found measures of radius and tibia bone microarchitecture were significant predictors of 2-year fracture risk, even when factoring in traditional assessments like DXA-BMD and FRAX.
- The results indicated that decreases in certain bone measures significantly increased fracture risk in both men and women, suggesting that HR-pQCT could enhance current methods for assessing fracture risk in older adults.
Article Synopsis
- Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis are common age-related conditions linked by unknown molecular mechanisms, prompting this study.
- Researchers conducted network analysis of brain and bone RNA data from several participants to identify shared molecular pathways.
- Findings revealed interconnected gene modules between both diseases, particularly highlighting the role of Wnt signaling, suggesting potential avenues for treatment and biomarker development.
Article Synopsis
- The primary goal of osteoporosis management is to prevent fractures through individualized, goal-directed treatment plans.
- Effective treatment requires assessing a patient's fracture history, bone mineral density (BMD), and other major risk factors to determine the best course of action.
- Initial treatment should prioritize rapid fracture risk reduction for high-risk patients and take into account the likelihood of meeting BMD targets with either osteoanabolic or antiresorptive therapies.
Article Synopsis
- Computed tomography (CT) measures subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SAT and VAT), and this study aims to provide reference values specific to age, sex, and vertebral levels for these metrics.
- The research analyzed data from the Framingham Heart Study, including nearly 15,000 measurements from over 3700 participants, focusing on how VAT and SAT change with age and differ between genders.
- Results showed that VAT increases significantly with age, especially in males, while the ratio of VAT to SAT also increases, and the findings are available through an online tool for further reference.
Article Synopsis
- Osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease often occur together in older adults, but no direct causal link has been established between them.
- A study involving 1,391 participants from the Framingham Heart Study assessed the relationship between vascular function and bone health, hypothesizing that poor vascular function negatively impacts bone density and strength.
- The findings indicated that while poorer vascular function was initially associated with lower bone quality metrics, these associations were not significant after considering factors like age and sex, suggesting that aging-related vascular dysfunction may not be a direct cause of osteoporosis in older individuals.
Article Synopsis
- A study examined the link between body mass index (BMI) changes in middle adulthood and the risk of fractures in late adulthood, revealing that maintaining a stable BMI may lower fracture risks later in life.
- The research analyzed data from 1,772 participants over 17 years, finding that those who moved from overweight to normal weight faced a significantly higher fracture risk after age 65 compared to those who remained in a normal to slightly overweight BMI range.
- The findings suggest that maintaining a slight increase in weight during midlife could be beneficial for reducing fracture risk in later years, urging overweight individuals to avoid significant weight loss.
Article Synopsis
- * Sarcopenia (muscle loss) and osteoporosis (bone loss) are closely linked, with each condition serving as a predictor for the other, indicating the need for integrated research approaches.
- * A recent workshop emphasized the importance of muscle characterization in musculoskeletal studies, advocating for more recognition and research on muscle phenotyping in both human and animal models like zebrafish and mice.
Article Synopsis
- Sarcopenia is when people lose muscle mass and strength as they get older, and there's no clear agreement on what it exactly means worldwide.
- A group called the Global Leadership Initiative in Sarcopenia (GLIS) worked to define sarcopenia better by getting experts from around the world to share their opinions.
- They found that most experts agreed that things like muscle mass and strength are really important to understanding sarcopenia and that it becomes more common as people age.
Article Synopsis
- This study analyzed the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) using data from the Rotterdam Study and the Framingham Heart Study, involving a total of 3,647 individuals with detailed measurements of BMD and CAC.
- The researchers employed various statistical methods, including linear regression and Mendelian randomization, but found no significant associations between BMD levels and CAC.
- The results suggest that the earlier observed connections between low BMD and high CAC may not indicate a causal relationship but are likely influenced by other factors or shared underlying causes.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers analyzed data from 6,835 individuals aged 40 to 96, identifying a significant number of fractures and finding consistent associations between HR-pQCT bone measures and fracture risk across all age groups.
- * The results indicate that low bone density is a persistent factor for fracture risk regardless of age, suggesting that the lower fracture risk observed in older adults with lower aBMD might arise from limitations in the DXA method rather than actual differences in bone health.
Article Synopsis
- The search for biomarkers that measure biological aging, especially 'omic'-based ones, has gained momentum, aiming to predict aging outcomes and assess interventions for healthy aging.
- There is currently no agreement on the best methods to validate these aging biomarkers before using them in clinical settings.
- The review emphasizes the need for systematic validation, which can enhance the reliability and effectiveness of aging biomarkers in clinical research and trials focused on longevity.
Article Synopsis
- - The study explored the relationship between gut microbiome composition and walking speed in older men, analyzing data from 740 participants to see how gut health might impact mobility.
- - Results indicated that faster walking speeds correlated with greater gut microbiome diversity and higher abundance of beneficial bacteria linked to anti-inflammatory properties.
- - The findings suggest that maintaining a diverse gut microbiome may be important for mobility function in aging individuals, highlighting potential areas for further research on health interventions.
Article Synopsis
- A meta-analysis of data from 46 cohorts found that individuals who reported falling in the past year had an increased risk of fractures, highlighting falls as an important factor for fracture risk assessment.
- Previous falls were correlated with a significant rise in fracture risks for both men and women, with hazard ratios indicating that the risk is greater for men.
- The study suggests that falls should be included in the FRAX® algorithm, which currently does not consider this important risk factor for osteoporotic fractures.