Improved cognitive functioning in obese adolescents after a 30-week inpatient weight loss program.

Introduction: Studies linked obesity with a large number of medical conditions including decreased cognitive functioning. The relation between BMI and cognition was proven in adults, but in adolescents the results are conflicting. Further, limited data are available on the impact of weight loss on cognition.

Reaction time in healthy elderly is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and advanced glycation end product.

Chronic inflammation and Advanced Glycation End products (AGE) are associated with sarcopenia. Decreased voluntary muscle activation and increased antagonist coactivation can contribute to age-related muscle weakness. The influence of chronic inflammation and AGE in these neuromuscular mechanisms is not clear.

Self-perceived fatigue in adolescents in relation to body composition and physical outcomes.

BackgroundIncreased self-perceived fatigue (SpF) has already been identified in chronic conditions such as obesity, but it is also a growing problem in school-attending adolescents (±25%). This study tried to link body composition to SpF and physical activity/performance. Additionally, indicators for fatigue were determined.

Peripheral muscle fatigue in hospitalised geriatric patients is associated with circulating markers of inflammation.

Geriatric patients with acute infection show increased muscle weakness and fatigability but the relative contribution of central and peripheral factors is unclear. Hospitalised patients with acute infection (82±6years, N=10) and community-dwelling controls (76±6years, N=19) sustained a maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the M. Adductor Pollicis until strength dropped to 50% of its maximal value.

Predicting appendicular lean and fat mass with bioelectrical impedance analysis in older adults with physical function decline - The PROVIDE study.

Background & Aims: No generalizable formulas exist that are derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for predicting appendicular lean mass (ALM) and fat mass (AFM) in sarcopenic older adults. Since precision of regional body composition (BC) data in multicentre trials is essential, this study aimed to: 1) develop and cross-validate soft tissue BIA equations with GE Lunar and Hologic DXA systems as their reference 2) to compare our new ALM equation to two previously published models and 3) to assess the agreement between BIA- and DXA-derived soft tissue ratios as indicators of limb tissue quality.

Methods: Two-hundred and ninety-one participants with functional limitations (SPPB-score 4-9; sarcopenia class I or II, measured by BIA) were recruited from 18 study centres in six European countries.

Age-related differences in muscle recruitment and reaction-time performance.

Previously, we showed that prolonged reaction-time (RT) in older persons is related to increased antagonist muscle co-activation, occurring already before movement onset. Here, we studied whether a difference in temporal agonist and antagonist muscle activation exists between young and older persons during an RT-test. We studied Mm.

Age-related differences in pre-movement antagonist muscle co-activation and reaction-time performance.

Multiple causes contribute to the prolonged reaction-times (RT) observed in elderly persons. The involvement of antagonist muscle co-activation remains unclear. Here the Mm.