Is there a U-shaped association between physical activity and falling in older persons?

Unlabelled: This study tests whether the relationship between physical activity and (recurrent) falling is U-shaped. Among 1,337 community-dwelling older persons, no evidence for a nonlinear association was found. If all older persons increase their physical activity level with 100 units, 4% may be prevented to become recurrent fallers.

A genome-wide association study of northwestern Europeans involves the C-type natriuretic peptide signaling pathway in the etiology of human height variation.

Northwestern Europeans are among the tallest of human populations. The increase in body height in these people appears to have reached a plateau, suggesting the ubiquitous presence of an optimal environment in which genetic factors may have exerted a particularly strong influence on human growth. Therefore, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of body height using 2.

Validation of the IOF quality of life questionnaire for patients with wrist fracture.

Introduction: Wrist fracture causes pain and decreased physical, social and emotional function. The International Osteoporosis Foundation has developed a specific questionnaire to assess quality of life in patients with wrist fracture. This questionnaire, including 12 questions, was validated in a multicentre study and compared with an osteoporosis-specific questionnaire (Qualeffo-41) and a generic questionnaire (EQ-5D).

Low free testosterone levels are associated with prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms in older men.

Objective: The prevalence of both low testosterone levels and depression increases with age. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the existence of an association. Our study analyses the cross-sectional association of testosterone levels with depressive symptoms and its prospective association with the development of incident depressive symptoms.

Cross-geographic region differences in quality of life in women with and without vertebral fracture.

Summary: Not much is known about cross-geographic region differences in quality of life (QoL) in women with and without prevalent vertebral fractures (VFX). QoL differed between continents, countries, and ethnicities. The observed differences in QoL mostly appeared larger than the difference in QoL between women with or without mild to moderate VFX.

Relationships between cortisol level, mortality and chronic diseases in older persons.

Context: High cortisol level is known to be associated with osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), susceptibility to infections and depression and may protect against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: This study assesses the association between cortisol level, 6- to 7.5-year mortality risk and prevalence of chronic diseases.

Physical activity and incident clinical knee osteoarthritis in older adults.

Objective: To study the relationship between 4 components of physical activity and the 12-year incidence of clinical knee osteoarthritis (OA) among older adults.

Methods: Longitudinal data from 1,678 men and women, ages 55-85 years, were collected in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Incident clinical knee OA was defined by an algorithm using self-report and general practitioner data.

Relationships of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D to bone mineral density and serum parathyroid hormone and markers of bone turnover in older persons.

Context: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] may influence serum PTH and other parameters of bone health up to a threshold concentration, which may be between 25 and 80 nmol/liter.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the threshold serum 25(OH)D with regard to PTH, bone turnover markers, and bone mineral density (BMD).

Design And Setting: This was part of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, an ongoing cohort study.

A simple risk score for the assessment of absolute fracture risk in general practice based on two longitudinal studies.

The aim of this prospective study was to develop a risk score, based on putative risk factors in current guidelines, which can be used to identify women at high risk of fractures in general practice. The study sample included 4157 women >/=60 yr of age (mean +/- SD: 74.1 +/- 9.

Lipid levels: a link between cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis?

Epidemiological observations support a positive relationship between cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and osteoporosis, where cholesterol has been indicated to be a possible link. Only a few studies have investigated the relation between lipids and BMD, but the association remains unclear. We studied the relationship between serum lipids and BMD of the calcaneus.

Glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms and childhood adversity are associated with depression: New evidence for a gene-environment interaction.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis regulates the response to stressful events and is expected to be involved in the pathogenesis of depression. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) regulates the activity of the HPA-axis. Both GR gene polymorphisms and childhood adversity are known to be associated with increased risk for depression.

Vitamin D status, parathyroid function, bone turnover, and BMD in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: global perspective.

Poor vitamin D status is common in the elderly and is associated with bone loss and fractures. The aim was to assess worldwide vitamin D status in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis according to latitude and economic status, in relation to parathyroid function, bone turnover markers, and BMD. The study was performed in 7441 postmenopausal women from 29 countries participating in a clinical trial on bazedoxifene (selective estrogen receptor modulator), with BMD T-score at the femoral neck or lumbar spine View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Evaluation of life in the elderly (LWO): the validation of a measuring instrument].

The goal of this study is the adaptation and validation of the Dutch translation of Lawton's "Valuation of Life" scale. In developing this scale Lawton et al. argued that the usual health related quality of life scales had a limited contribution in explaining health utility and desired length of life and that the "Valuation of Life" is intended to cover a specific quality of life domain not related to health.

Practical operationalizations of risk factors for fracture in older women: results from two longitudinal studies.

Several guidelines on osteoporosis have proposed algorithms to identify persons at high risk of fractures. Although these algorithms include well-known risk factors, it is not clear how they can best be operationalized for use in general practice. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive performance of different operationalizations of four categories of risk factors for fractures that can be used in general practice.

Large-scale analysis of association between LRP5 and LRP6 variants and osteoporosis.

Context: Mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene cause rare syndromes characterized by altered bone mineral density (BMD). More common LRP5 variants may affect osteoporosis risk in the general population.

Objective: To generate large-scale evidence on whether 2 common variants of LRP5 (Val667Met, Ala1330Val) and 1 variant of LRP6 (Ile1062Val) are associated with BMD and fracture risk.

Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures.

The evidence on the association between vitamin D deficiency and fracture incidence is contradictory. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine whether low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are associated with osteoporotic fractures. The study was conducted among 1311 community-dwelling older men and women of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), an ongoing multidisciplinary cohort study.

Large-scale analysis of association between polymorphisms in the transforming growth factor beta 1 gene (TGFB1) and osteoporosis: the GENOMOS study.

Introduction: The TGFB1 gene which encodes transforming growth factor beta 1, is a strong candidate for susceptibility to osteoporosis and several studies have reported associations between bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporotic fractures and polymorphisms of TGFB1, although these studies have yielded conflicting results.

Methods: We investigated associations between TGFB1 polymorphisms and BMD and fracture in the GENOMOS study: a prospective multicenter study involving 10 European research studies including a total of 28,924 participants. Genotyping was conducted for known TGFB1 polymorphisms at the following sites: G-1639-A (G-800-A, rs1800468), C-1348-T (C-509-T, rs1800469), T29-C (Leu10Pro, rs1982073), G74-C (Arg25Pro, rs1800471) and C788-T (Thr263Ile, rs1800472).

The relationship between cortisol, muscle mass and muscle strength in older persons and the role of genetic variations in the glucocorticoid receptor.

Objective: Cortisol levels increase with age and hypercortisolism is associated with muscle weakness. This study examines the relationship between cortisol, muscle mass and muscle strength in community-dwelling older persons and the role of genetic variations in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR).

Design/patients: The study was conducted within the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA, 1992-ongoing), a cohort study in a population-based sample of older persons in the Netherlands.

Impact of prevalent and incident vertebral fractures on utility: results from a patient-based and a population-based sample.

Data are scarce on the impact of vertebral fractures (VFX) on utility. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of prevalent and incident VFX on utility in both a patient-based and population-based sample. Data from the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation (MORE) study (n = 550 for prevalent VFX and n = 174 for incident VFX) and the European Prospective Osteoporosis Study (EPOS) (n = 236) were used.

Serum fasting cortisol in relation to bone, and the role of genetic variations in the glucocorticoid receptor.

Objective: To examine the relationship between endogenous cortisol and bone, and the role of genetic variations in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR).

Design And Patients: The Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA), a population-based cohort study in older men and women.

Measurements: Serum fasting cortisol was assessed by competitive immunoassay (n = 1214); bone mineral density (BMD) by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (n = 502); broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) by ultrasound (n = 1209); fractures by self-report (n = 1211); and GR gene polymorphisms (ER22/23EK, N363S, 9beta, BclI) were genotyped by Taqman (n = 858).

A polymorphism in the AMH type II receptor gene is associated with age at menopause in interaction with parity.

Background: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) inhibits primordial follicle recruitment in the mouse ovary. We hypothesize that in women AMH signaling also regulates the usage of the primordial follicle pool and hence influences the onset of menopause. Since age at menopause has a strong genetic component, we investigated the role of AMH signaling using a candidate gene approach.

Relationship between cortisol and physical performance in older persons.

Objective: Hypercortisolism is associated with muscle weakness. This study examines the relationship between cortisol and physical performance in older persons.

Design/patients: The study was conducted within the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), an ongoing cohort study in a population-based sample of healthy older persons in the Netherlands.

The association of sex hormone levels with quantitative ultrasound, bone mineral density, bone turnover and osteoporotic fractures in older men and women.

Objective: Sex steroids play an important role in the maintenance of bone health. Association studies on sex steroids and fractures are not consistent. Our objective was to examine whether serum oestradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) are associated with quantitative ultrasound (QUS), bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers and fracture incidence.

Maximum potential preventive effect of hip protectors.

Objectives: To estimate the maximum potential preventive effect of hip protectors in older persons living in the community or homes for the elderly.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Setting: Emergency departments in the Netherlands.

Vitamin D status predicts physical performance and its decline in older persons.

Context: Vitamin D deficiency is common among older people and can cause mineralization defects, bone loss, and muscle weakness.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentration with current physical performance and its decline over 3 yr among elderly.

Design: The study consisted of a cross-sectional and longitudinal design (3-yr follow-up) within the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.