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Bone and skeletal muscle changes in oldest-old women: the role of physical inactivity

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Abstract

Background

Alterations in bone and muscle parameters related to advanced aging and physical inactivity have never been investigated in oldest-old women.

Aims

To investigate the impact of physical inactivity on bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition at the systemic and regional levels in oldest-old (> 75 years old) women. We hypothesized that, further to aging, alterations in bone and body composition parameters are exacerbated in the locomotor limbs that have experienced physical inactivity.

Methods

Whole-body and regional (lower limbs and trunk) BMD and fat-free soft tissue mass (FFSTM) were measured by means of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 11 oldest-old wheelchair-bound women (OIW), 11 oldest-old mobile women (OMW), and 11 young healthy women (YW), all matched for weight (± 10 kg), height (± 10 cm).

Results

Whole-body BMD was reduced by 15% from YW to OMW and 10% from OMW to OIW. Whole-body FFSTM was also reduced from YW to OIW (− 13%). Lower limb BMD was progressively reduced among YW, OMW and OIW (− 23%). Similarly, lower limb FFSTM was reduced among YW (12,816 ± 1797 g), OMW (11,999 ± 1512 g) and OIW (10,037 ± 1489 g). Trunk BMD was progressively reduced among YW, OMW and OIW (− 19%), while FFSTM was similar among the three groups ~ 19801 g.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that the alterations in bone and body composition parameters are exacerbated in the physical inactive oldest-old. These negative effects of physical inactivity are not confined to the locomotor limbs, and a systemic decline of bone and muscle parameters are likely associated with the physical inactivity.

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Funding

There was no funding received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Valentina Cavedon, Chiara Milanese, Fabio Giuseppe Laginestra, Gaia Giuriato, Anna Pedrinolla, Federico Ruzzante, Federico Schena & Massimo Venturelli

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Massimo Venturelli

Authors
  1. Valentina Cavedon
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  2. Chiara Milanese
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  3. Fabio Giuseppe Laginestra
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  4. Gaia Giuriato
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  5. Anna Pedrinolla
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  6. Federico Ruzzante
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  7. Federico Schena
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Correspondence to Chiara Milanese.

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Statement of human and animal rights

The present study involved human participants and all the procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (Institutional Review Board of the Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences; University of Verona. Prot. nr 227. Date: 29 September 2010. Tit. II/9) and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Cavedon, V., Milanese, C., Laginestra, F. et al. Bone and skeletal muscle changes in oldest-old women: the role of physical inactivity. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 207–214 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01352-x

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