Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Deletion Of Sa Β-Gal+ Cells Using Senolytics Improves Muscle Regeneration In Old Mice, Cory M. Dungan, Kevin A. Murach, Christopher J. Zdunek, Zuo Jian Tang, Georgia L. Vonlehmden, Camille R. Brightwell, Zachary Hettinger, Davis A. Englund, Zheng Liu, Christopher S. Fry, Antonio Filareto, Michael Franti, Charlotte A. Peterson

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Systemic deletion of senescent cells leads to robust improvements in cognitive, cardiovascular, and whole-body metabolism, but their role in tissue reparative processes is incompletely understood. We hypothesized that senolytic drugs would enhance regeneration in aged skeletal muscle. Young (3 months) and old (20 months) male C57Bl/6J mice were administered the senolytics dasatinib (5 mg/kg) and quercetin (50 mg/kg) or vehicle bi-weekly for 4 months. Tibialis anterior (TA) was then injected with 1.2% BaCl₂ or PBS 7- or 28 days prior to euthanization. Senescence-associated β-Galactosidase positive (SA β-Gal+) cell abundance was low in muscle from both young and old mice …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Diminishes The Effects Of Age On White Matter Hyperintensity Volume, Nathan F. Johnson, Ahmed A. Bahrani, David K. Powell, Gregory A. Jicha, Brian T. Gold

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are among the most commonly observed marker of cerebrovascular disease. Age is a key risk factor for WMH development. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with increased vessel compliance, but it remains unknown if high CRF affects WMH volume. This study explored the effects of CRF on WMH volume in community-dwelling older adults. We further tested the possibility of an interaction between CRF and age on WMH volume. Participants were 76 adults between the ages of 59 and 77 (mean age = 65.36 years, SD = 3.92) who underwent a maximal graded exercise test and structural brain …

Correlations Of Calf Muscle Macrophage Content With Muscle Properties And Walking Performance In Peripheral Artery Disease, Kate Kosmac, Marta Gonzalez-Freire, Mary M. Mcdermott, Sarah H. White, R. Grace Walton, Robert L. Sufit, Lu Tian, Lingyu Li, Melina R. Kibbe, Michael H Criqui, Jack M. Guralnik, Tamar S. Polonsky, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, Luigi Ferrucci, Charlotte A. Peterson

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis characterized by reduced blood flow to the lower extremities and mobility loss. Preliminary evidence suggests PAD damages skeletal muscle, resulting in muscle impairments that contribute to functional decline. We sought to determine whether PAD is associated with an altered macrophage profile in gastrocnemius muscles and whether muscle macrophage populations are associated with impaired muscle phenotype and walking performance in patients with PAD.

Methods and Results

Macrophages, satellite cells, and extracellular matrix in gastrocnemius muscles from 25 patients with PAD and 7 patients without PAD were quantified using immunohistochemistry. Among patients …

Endothelial Function Is Associated With White Matter Microstructure And Executive Function In Older Adults, Nathan F. Johnson, Brian T. Gold, Christopher A. Brown, Emily F. Anggelis, Alison L. Bailey, Jody L. Clasey, David K. Powell

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Age-related declines in endothelial function can lead to cognitive decline. However, little is known about the relationships between endothelial function and specific neurocognitive functions. This study explored the relationship between measures of endothelial function (reactive hyperemia index; RHI), white matter (WM) health (fractional anisotropy, FA, and WM hyperintensity volume, WMH), and executive function (Trail Making Test (TMT); Trail B - Trail A). Participants were 36 older adults between the ages of 59 and 69 (mean age = 63.89 years, SD = 2.94). WMH volume showed no relationship with RHI or executive function. However, there was a positive relationship between RHI …

Role Of Mitochondria In Regulating Microrna Activity And Its Relevance To The Central Nervous System, Wang-Xia Wang, Joe E. Springer

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Mitochondria-Associated Micrornas In Rat Hippocampus Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Wang-Xia Wang, Nishant P. Visavadiya, Jignesh D. Pandya, Peter T. Nelson, Patrick G. Sullivan, Joe E. Springer

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability. However, the molecular events contributing to the pathogenesis are not well understood. Mitochondria serve as the powerhouse of cells, respond to cellular demands and stressors, and play an essential role in cell signaling, differentiation, and survival. There is clear evidence of compromised mitochondrial function following TBI; however, the underlying mechanisms and consequences are not clear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, and function as important mediators of neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegeneration. Several miRNAs show altered expression following TBI; however, the …

Let’S Play: Understanding The Role And Significance Of Digital Gaming In Old Age, Julie A. Skalsky Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

Despite a marked increase in the use of digital games among older persons, there is insufficient research that provides insight into the gaming experiences of this population. A major demographic shift within the senior gaming market has ushered in a new perspective on the use of digital games as a tool for physical and cognitive health, and improved socialization. It is proposed that individual notions of play, which are developed over the life course, influence digital game play engagement and interaction preferences, and contribute to well-being. This study explored how self-perceptions of play over the course of the senior gamer’s …