Physiology Commons^™

The Sequence (S) Index As A Marker Of Diminished Step-To-Step Transition Efficiency In Older Adults, Elham Alijanpour, Ashwini Kulkarni, Peter G. Adamczyk, Daniel M. Russell

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Age-related declines in walking efficiency are often attributed to musculoskeletal and neuromuscular changes, yet the mechanisms underlying these inefficiencies remain poorly understood. One key contributor is the step-to-step transition (STST), during which the center of mass (CoM) is redirected between limbs. The Sequence (S) index quantifies the temporal overlap between push-off and collision forces during STST, with higher values indicating greater mechanical energy loss. This study investigated whether aging affects STST efficiency, as quantified by the S index, and examined the timing and impulse characteristics underlying observed differences.

Methods: Thirteen young and eleven older healthy adults walked at five …

Multisystem Predictors Of Dynamic Gait Stability Across Fall Risk In Older Adults, Ashwini Kulkarni, Neda Moghim, Ross Gore, Soumya Banerjee, Christopher K. Rhea, Brittany Samulski

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Gait stability arises from interactions between physiological, cognitive, and psychological systems, yet these domains are often assessed in isolation. This study examined multisystem predictors of anteroposterior margin of stability during walking (MoSAP) in community-dwelling older adults. Of 340 participants, 143 were retained after data quality screening (105 females; age: 70.8 ± 7.8 years). Participants completed the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA), cognitive testing using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), fear-of-falling evaluations using Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) and a biomechanical gait assessment during preferred and fast speeds. Participants were stratified into four PPA-based fall-risk groups: low, mild, moderate, and high risk. MoSAP …

Early Microglial Response To Amyloid Plaques Drives Sleep Loss In Alzheimer’S Disease, Nicholas J. Constantino, Riley E. Irmen, Matthew J. Lanning, Sierra M. Turner, Clair C. Ashley, Caitlin M. Carroll, Evan M. Neary, Dave Rubinow, J. Andy Snipes, Shannon L. Macauley

Physiology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Sleep disruption is an early feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the cellular mechanisms linking amyloid pathology to sleep loss remain unclear.

Methods: Electroencephalography/electromyography (EEG/EMG) recordings, quantitative EEG analysis, and sleep deprivation were performed in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice at different stages of pathology relative to normal aging. Amyloid burden and microglial density were quantified with whole-brain light-sheet microscopy. CSF1R-mediated microglial depletion explored effects of microglia on sleep loss.

Results: Amyloid plaques caused non–rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep loss that did not worsen with increased plaque burden. Aging reduced REM sleep and eliminated sleep rebound. Amyloid pathology was associated with …

Gcn5l1-Mediated Lysine Acetylation Regulates Mitochondrial Dysfunction In The Aged Heart, Jackson Edmond Stewart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For over a century, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been and remains the leading cause of death globally. CVD risk and severity increase significantly with advanced age, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aging. Furthermore, mitochondrial health is crucial for cardiac function, as one-third of total cardiomyocyte volume is occupied by mitochondria in order to meet the high energy demand of contractile and relaxational function. It is thus crucial that we understand the pathological mechanisms driving mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and how this contributes to age-associated cardiovascular disease. The current manuscript aims to fill this knowledge gap …

Exposure To Pm2.5 And Aging., Daniel Chris Gomes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inhalation of fine airborne particulate matter (PM_2.5) is an environmental risk factor for numerous health disorders, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While several studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can induce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation, the underlying mechanisms that translate these effects into systemic pathology remain poorly understood. Some recent studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can lead to telomere shortening in leukocytes, but the generality of this outcome and contribution to endothelial dysfunction has not yet been fully explored. We hypothesized that PM_2.5inhalation accelerates cellular aging and senescence in both circulating peripheral …

The Loss Of Opa1 Accelerates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration And Osteoarthritis In Aged Mice, Vedavathi Madhu, Miriam Hernandaz-Meadows, Ashley Coleman, Kimheak Sao, Kameron Inguito, Owen Haslam, Paige Boneski, Hiromi Sesaki, Ruteja Barve, John Collins, Makarand Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mitochondria in NP cells and articular chondrocyte health. Since the understanding of mechanisms governing mitochondrial dynamics in these tissues is lacking, we investigated the role of OPA1, a mitochondrial fusion protein, in their homeostasis. OPA1 knockdown in NP cells altered mitochondrial size and cristae shape and increased the oxygen consumption rate. OPA1 governed the morphology of multiple organelles, including peroxisomes, early endosomes and cis-Golgi and loss resulted in the dysregulation of autophagy. Metabolic profiling and

Improvements In Postural Stability, Dynamic Balance And Strength Following 12 Weeks Of Online Ballet-Modern Dance Classes For Older Women., Emma Hsiaowen Chen, Andreas Bergdahl, Mary Roberts

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 682-701, 2024. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults and affect women at disproportionate rates. Dance has been used to improve postural stability, balance confidence and strength of older adults, but in-person classes are often inaccessible. This quasi-experimental pre-mid-post design study investigates whether 12 weeks of online dance classes can improve postural stability, dynamic balance and strength of women aged 65 plus. 16 participants (median=74 years, IQR=6) recruited via convenience sampling completed 12 weeks of twice weekly 75-minute online dance classes. In-person pre, mid and post assessments used 30-second trials …

Protein Oxidation In Aging And Alzheimer’S Disease Brain, Rukhsana Sultana, D. Allan Butterfield

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Proteins are essential molecules that play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and carrying out biological functions such as catalyzing biochemical reactions, structural proteins, immune response, etc. However, proteins also are highly susceptible to damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). In this review, we summarize the role of protein oxidation in normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The major emphasis of this review article is on the carbonylation and nitration of proteins in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The oxidatively modified proteins showed a strong correlation with the reported changes in brain structure, carbohydrate …

Sarcopenia And The Importance Of Resistance Training And Protein-Rich Diets For Prevention Of Muscle Loss In Older Adults: A Literature Review And Informational Pamphlet, Madison Steele

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The growing prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults as well as youths has prompted further research aimed at developing effective preventative measures and treatment plans. Sarcopenia is often thought to occur solely due to aging, but several other factors contribute to progressive muscle loss. Previous research studies have found an effect of physical activity and dietary protein levels on the risk of developing sarcopenia as well as its onset age. This study aims to review existing knowledge in the field to compile an extensive list of sarcopenia causes and methods of prevention. The main causes identified in this review are …

Vascular And Metabolic Consequences Of T Cell Aging, David J. Buckley

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Aging is the major non-modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Many common CVD are diseases of the arteries. Two major hallmarks of arterial aging are 1) increased large artery stiffness and 2) endothelial dysfunction which is characterized by impaired endothelium dependent vasodilation and blunted nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Importantly, these adverse alterations in the arteries occur prior to, and are predictors of the onset of overt CVD. Advancing age is also a non-modifiable risk factor for impaired glucose homeostasis and is directly or indirectly associated with almost every …

Mechanisms Of Γδ T Cell Accumulation In Visceral Adipose Tissue With Aging, Sujata Mukherjee, Maria E. C. Bruno, Jason Oakes, Gregory S. Hawk, Arnold Stromberg, Donald A. Cohen, Marlene E. Starr

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

γδ T cells are resident in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) where they show an age- associated increase in numbers and contribute to local and systemic chronic inflammation. However, regulation of this population and mechanisms for the age-dependent accumulation are not known. In this study, we identified a progressive trend of γδ T cell accumulation in VAT over the lifespan in mice and explored physiological mechanisms contributing to accumulation. Using isochronic parabiotic pairs of wild-type (WT) and T cell receptor delta knockout (TCRδ KO) mice at young and old age, we confirmed that VAT γδ T cells are predominately a tissue-resident …

Effects Of Aging On Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption: A Preliminary Study, Steven Klepacz

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Aging and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) is something that has not been adequately studied. Studies looking at EPOC mostly are compiled of young college age individuals. Aging in humans is a topic of much research with still more to be learned. The study in this paper attempts to answer the question of whether age affects EPOC when performing a certain exercise. Preliminary findings based on general age-related research suggest the possibility. This thesis will explore the current research related to age and EPOC, analyze the findings, and discuss additional avenues for future research.

Sex Differences And Physical Activity Status On The Hamstring: Quadriceps Ratio, Activities Of Daily Living, And Functional Movement In Older Adults, Brittany N. Followay, Haley A. Reierson, Emily M. Rigden

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1228-1243, 2023. The study aimed to investigate sex differences and the effect of physical activity on the hamstring:quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, activities of daily living (ADLs), and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) in older adults. Thirty older adults (72.56 + 6.22) completed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs), ADLs, the FMS, and three closed-kinetic chain exercises (CKCs); front lunge (FL), side lunge (SL), and bilateral squat (BLSQ). Electromyography was recorded from the biceps femoris (BF) and vastus lateralis (VL) on the dominant and non-dominant limbs during the MVICs …

Impacts Of Dietary Restriction On A Drosophila Model Of Werner Syndrome, Eileen Sember

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disorder that results in premature aging and occurs in 1 in 1,000,0000 to 1 in 10,000,000 people. In humans, WS is the result of mutations that render the WRN gene, that contains a helicase and an exonuclease domain, non-functional. Currently, there is no cure for WS in humans, making dietary and lifestyle interventions attractive for increasing the quality and longevity of lives. Diet restriction (DR) has been shown to extend the lifespan of several model organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster, making it a strong candidate for WS treatment. In this thesis, mutant flies …

Life Stressors And Immune Aging: Protective Effects Of Cognitive Reappraisal, Rebecca G. Reed, Steven R. Presnell, Ahmad Al-Attar, Charles T. Lutz, Suzanne C. Segerstrom

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Stressful life events may accelerate aspects of immune aging, but habitual use of an adaptive emotion regulation strategy, cognitive reappraisal, may attenuate these effects. This study examined whether cognitive reappraisal moderates the associations between life stressor frequency and stressor desirability on aspects of immune aging, including late-differentiated CD8+ T and natural killer (NK) cells and inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP), both between and within people in a longitudinal sample of 149 older adults (mean age = 77.8, range: 64–92 years). Participants reported stressful life events, use of cognitive reappraisal, and provided blood semiannually for up to 5 years to …

Age-Associated Increase Of Gamma Delta T Cells In Visceral Adipose Tissue And Mechanisms Of Their Accumulation, Sujata Mukherjee

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Chronic systemic inflammation, known as inflammaging is considered a hallmark of aging and associated diseases. While adipose tissue has long been considered only as a caloric reservoir regulating systemic energy homeostasis, research in the past couple of decades substantiate its endocrine function to secrete an array of inflammatory mediators and hormones, which have physiological effects on multiple organ systems, and contribute to inflammaging. Redistribution of adipose tissue from subcutaneous to visceral depots, changes in the immune profile and the chronic inflammatory state are among the major sources of adipose tissue dysfunction with aging.

This dissertation is focused on identifying and …

Atrial Fibrillation In Aging: Mechanisms And Potential Therapeutics, Mengmeng Chang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias seen in the clinics, and currently available antiarrhythmic pharmacotherapies in AF are not very effective. Although AF has been recognized as an aging-mediated disease, our understanding of the electrophysiological pathways that link aging and AF remain incomplete, which limits breakthroughs in the development of novel antiarrhythmic treatments for this disease. Studies have shown that aging increases the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the heart, and high levels of ROS have been associated with development of AF in animals and patients. Additionally, in some forms of AF, the …

Functional Benefits Of Hard Martial Arts For Older Adults: A Scoping Review, Ian Miller, Mike Climstein, Luke Del Vecchio

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(3): 1430-1443, 2022. The present scoping review focused upon the functional benefits of hard martial arts training for older adults. The AXIS Critical Appraisal Tool was used to appraise all studies included in the review. A systematic literature search identified 265 papers via electronic database and ten papers from additional sources. Of these, six studies featuring 240 participants were included in the final scoping review. Of the included studies, three were randomized control trials and three were comparative studies with concurrent controls. The available studies outlined improvements in functional fitness parameters for older adults participating …

Advanced Age And Neurotrauma Diminish Glutathione And Impair Antioxidant Defense After Spinal Cord Injury, Andrew N. Stewart, Ethan P. Glaser, Caitlin A. Mott, William M. Bailey, Patrick G. Sullivan, Samir P. Patel, John C. Gensel

Physiology Faculty Publications

Advanced age at the time of spinal cord injury (SCI) exacerbates damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mechanisms underlying this age-dependent response are not well understood and may arise from decreased antioxidant defense. We investigated how spinal cord levels of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), and its regulation, change with age and SCI. GSH is used by GSH peroxidase to sequester ROS and is recycled by GSH reductase. Male and female, 4- and 14-month-old (MO) mice received a 60 kDyn contusion SCI, and the levels of GSH and its regulatory enzymes were evaluated at one and three days post-injury (dpi). The …

Techniques To Analyze The Pathophysiology Of Aging From Induced Senescence And Sod2 Loss, Asia Davis-Castillo

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Biological Sciences Master's Theses

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiac function declines with age, and promotes a number of age-related disorders, including atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Mitochondrial oxidative stress has long been suspected as a primary driver of aging pathology in multiple tissues, including the heart and brain. We used several phenotypic assays to characterize chemically-induced accelerated cardiac aging, as well as two transgenic knockout models for heart and brain specific loss of superoxide dismutase (SOD2), a mitochondrial antioxidant protein.

We first accelerated aging in mice by treating with doxorubicin (DOXO), a chemotherapeutic drug. One group …

Acute Effects Of Velocity-Based Resistance Training On The Physical Functional Performance Of Older Adults, Suzy S. Pinto, Ewertton S. Bezerra, Keuly G. Silva, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Abderaouf B. Abderrahman

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(3): 399-413, 2022. The aim of this study was to analyse the acute effects of velocity-based resistance training on the physical and functional performance of older adults. Twenty participants (70.4 ± 7.4 years) performed the deadlift exercise, in two different resistance training protocols. The moderate-velocity protocol (MV) predicted maximum loads so that the movement velocity during the concentric phase remained in the range of 0.5 to 0.7 m/s and the high-velocity protocol (HV) predicted maximum loads so that the movement velocity remained between 0.8 and 1.0 m/s. The jump height (cm), handgrip strength (kg), and …

Acute Inflammatory Profiles Differ With Sex And Age After Spinal Cord Injury, Andrew N. Stewart, John L. Lowe, Ethan P. Glaser, Caitlin A. Mott, Ryan K. Shahidehpour, Katelyn E. Mcfarlane, William M. Bailey, Bei Zhang, John C. Gensel

Physiology Faculty Publications

Background

Sex and age are emerging as influential variables that affect spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery. Despite a changing demographic towards older age at the time of SCI, the effects of sex or age on inflammation remain to be elucidated. This study determined the sex- and age-dependency of the innate immune response acutely after SCI.

Methods

Male and female mice of ages 4- and 14-month-old received T9 contusion SCI and the proportion of microglia, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM), and neutrophils surrounding the lesion were determined at 3- and 7-day post-injury (DPI) using flow cytometry. Cell counts of microglia and MDMs were …

Decreased Activity Of Phosphofructokinase-1 In Flight Muscle Cells Of Hawk Moth Manduca Sexta With Age, Owen G. Alvine

Honors Thesis

The phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) enzyme is important for the catalyzation and regulation of glycolysis, especially in muscle. Investigating age-related changes in PFK-1 activity will provide insights into the metabolism shifts in muscle cells of our muscle aging model. The hawk moth, Manduca sexta, was chosen as the model organism because of its unique endothermic, synchronous flight muscles that are more analogous to vertebrates than invertebrate species. We hypothesized that PFK-1 activity will increase in muscle cells of aged moths due to dysregulation of the mitochondria. This was predicted to change the method of energy production, by hindering oxidative phosphorylation, making glycolysis …

Postprandial Exhaled Nitric Oxide Responses In Older And Younger Adults With And Without Acute Exercise, Molly Miller

Masters Theses, 2020-current

A single high fat meal (HFM) increases airway inflammation in young, healthy individuals. Additionally, aging increases airway resistance and inflammation, though the airway inflammatory response to a HFM has not been investigated. Exercise is a natural anti-inflammatory, but has yet to be administered with a HFM as a method to study postprandial airway inflammation in older adults. Purpose: To investigate whether older individuals have greater postprandial airway inflammation compared to younger counterparts, and to explore whether exercise may modify the postprandial airway response in older adults. Methods: 12 younger adults (23.3±3.9 years; 5 M/7 F) and 12 older adults (67.7±6 …

Self-Selected Maximum But Not Jogging Speed Decreases With Age In Male And Female Runners, Heather Hamilton, Rumit Singh Kakar

College of Health Sciences Posters

Introduction: Running velocity decreases with age, likely resulting from physiological and musculoskeletal changes associated with aging. Females experience a more rapid decline in physical performance during middle age than males, therefore it is important to consider separate-sex analyses when studying running biomechanics and running-related injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between age and different running speeds separately for female and male runners.

Methods: Male (n=33) and female (n=46) runners (ages 18–65 years) ran at their self-selected JOG (long distance) and MAX (maximal running) pace on a treadmill. Running velocity was recorded. Simple linear regression was …

Inhibition Of Grk2, But Not Hsp90 Reduces Mitochondrial Superoxide And Improves Vasodilation Capacity Of Coronary Arterioles From Aged Female Rats, Michaela N Dukes, Evan P. Tracy B.S., Amanda Jo Leblanc Ph.D.

Undergraduate Arts and Research Showcase

Introduction: In post-menopausal women, small coronary microvessel dysfunction is the predominant heart disease presentation.There is currently no single treatment to tackle the multifactorial etiology of micro vessel dysfunction including oxidative stress, hyper constricted state, endothelial dysfunction, and blunted beta-adrenergic function. In the heart, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as the b-adrenergic receptor (bADR) investigated in this experiment, are active in mediating vessel contractility vasodilation to facilitate blood flow. The presence of GPCR kinase 2 (GRK2), which inhibit bADRs, increase in old age and may mediate blunted capacity to vasodilate. Furthermore, GRK2 can be translocated to the mitochondria via heat shock …

Insights On Ten Weeks Of Classical Ballet Training And Postural Stability In Older Adults, Hannah Weighart, Sarah Dipasquale

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(1): 101-112, 2020. Older adults show an increased risk of falling as they age, but dance interventions of various genres have been shown to improve postural stability in this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a ten-week beginning ballet intervention on postural stability for older adults. Eleven participants enrolled in the Dance Group (DG; 73.3 ± 10.6 years) while six enrolled in the Control Group (CG; 69.5 ± 11.9 years) via convenience sample. Following the intervention, no significant differences were seen within the DG from pre- to post-testing or …

Divergence In Neuronal Calcium Dysregulation In Brain Aging And Animal Models Of Ad, Adam Ghoweri

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Neuronal calcium dysregulation first garnered attention during the mid-1980’s as a key factor in brain aging, which led to the formulation of the Ca²⁺ hypothesis of brain aging and dementia. Indeed, many Ca²⁺-dependent cellular processes that change with age, including an increase in the afterhyperpolarization, a decrease in long-term potentiation, an increased susceptibility to long-term depression, and a reduction in short-term synaptic plasticity, have been identified. It was later determined that increased intracellular Ca²⁺ with age was due to increased Ca²⁺ channel density, elevated release from intracellular Ca²⁺ stores, and decreased Ca²⁺ buffering …

Post-Acquisition Processing Confounds In Brain Volumetric Quantification Of White Matter Hyperintensities, Ahmed A. Bahrani, Omar M. Al-Janabi, Erin L. Abner, Shoshana H. Bardach, Richard J. Kryscio, Donna M. Wilcock, Charles D. Smith, Gregory A. Jicha

Neurology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Disparate research sites using identical or near-identical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition techniques often produce results that demonstrate significant variability regarding volumetric quantification of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in the aging population. The sources of such variability have not previously been fully explored.

NEW METHOD: 3D FLAIR sequences from a group of randomly selected aged subjects were analyzed to identify sources-of-variability in post-acquisition processing that can be problematic when comparing WMH volumetric data across disparate sites. The methods developed focused on standardizing post-acquisition protocol processing methods to develop a protocol with less than 0.5% inter-rater variance.

RESULTS: A series …

The Association Of Handgrip Strength And Mortality: What Does It Tell Us And What Can We Do With It?, Samuel L. Buckner, Scott J. Dankel, Zachary W. Bell, Takashi Abe, Jeremy P. Loenneke

Faculty and Student Publications

© Copyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2019. The relationship between grip strength and mortality is often used to underscore the importance of resistance exercise in physical activity guidelines. However, grip strength does not appear to appreciably change following traditional resistance training. Thus, grip strength could be considered reflective of strength independent of resistance exercise. If true, grip strength is not necessarily informing us of the importance of resistance exercise as an adult, but potentially highlighting inherent differences between individuals who are stronger at "baseline" compared to their weaker counterpart. The purpose of this article is to discuss: (1) …