Successful Aging and Frailty (SAFe)

Molecular and Functional Basis of Successful Aging and Frailty

Frailty is the term commonly utilized to describe the geriatric syndrome that exposes the elderly to increased risk of negative health-related events. The frailty phenotypes (PF: physical or CF: cognitive) have demonstrated to predict the major negative health-related outcomes in the old population and show extensive similarities with sarcopenia (for PF) or dementia (for CF). However, the role of neurophysiological and biological factors contributing to the physical and cognitive frail condition, and in particular in which way mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as the hypertrophic and atrophic pathways assessed by genes expression, metabolomics and microbiota composition are contributing to these frail conditions, are still under debate. Therefore, the aim of this trial will be to make evidence based on the behaviors and the strategies that promote healthy lifestyle and successful human aging.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Cognitive Impairment; Sarcopenia; Frailty Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise Training; Other: Exercise Training + Cognitive Training; Other: Control

Detailed Description

In the majority of the world, the population is living to a greater age. However, older age is usually associated with elevated risk of several pathologies, as well as age-related organ dysfunctions, which in turn can accelerate functional impairments, disability, or death. To identify this geriatric syndrome the term frailty phenotype has been commonly utilized. In particular, the frailty phenotype can be distinguished in physical frailty (PF) phenotype or cognitive frailty (CF) phenotype.

Despite several groups of researchers tried to develop preventive interventions to counteract the physical and cognitive frail condition of elderly, the success of this task has been tempered by the lack of standardized, and universally agreed protocols. Moreover, the limited knowledge of the neurophysiological, and biological determinants of these conditions has precluded important advances in the research of this domain.

Many factors combine to achieve a successful aging: genetics, health care and healty lifestile. Therefore, the aim of the current trial will be to understand the behaviors and the strategies that promote healthy lifestyle and successful human aging.

Oldest old participants with CF and PF will be selected from the neurorehabilitation unit of the University Hospital of Verona (Italy). Healthy oldest old and young participants will be recruited from the section of Movement Sciences of the University of Verona.

After a first phase of neurophysiological and biological examinations that will involve all the 4 groups, only CF and PF participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention program (physical exercise, physical+cognitive exercise or control). Frail participants assigned to exercise groups will then perform 1 year of intervention, 3 days per week, 1 hour per day. Afterwards, the three groups of intervention will undergo the same neurophysiological and biological examinations of the beginning of the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 180
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Manuela Calderara; Phone Number: 00393209033512 +39 0458124287; Email: manuela.calderara@univr.it

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Verona, Italy, 37131
    • Recruiting
    • University of Verona
    • Contact: Manuela Calderara; Phone Number: +390458124287; Email: manuela.calderara@univr.it
    • Principal Investigator: Massimo Venturelli, Ph.D.
    • Principal Investigator: Maria Romanelli, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Gaia Giuriato, MsC
    • Sub-Investigator: Stefania Fochi, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Chiara Milanese, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Donadelli Massimo, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Calabria Elisa, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Lippi Giuseppe, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Montagnana Martina, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Danese Elisa, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Sbarbati Andrea, MD; Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Fabene Paolo, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Zanolin Maria Elisabetta, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Gomez-Lira Macarena, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Malerba Giovanni, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Tamburin Stefano, MD; Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Picelli Alessandro, MD; Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Fonte Cristina, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Federico Angela, Ph.D.
    • Sub-Investigator: Pizzini Francesca, MD; Ph.D.
    • Principal Investigator: Schena Federico, MD; Ph.D.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 80 years to 90 years (OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• YH: 30 healthy young (20-25 years old) participants. They must be free of any disease.
• OH: 30 healthy oldest old (80-90 years old) participants. They must be free of any neural or physical disease and any severe chronic disease (CODP, Heart Failure) that can compromise exercise.
• PF: 30 oldest old (80-90 years old) participants. They must be characterized by functional deficits (sarcopenia, osteoporosis and muscle weakness) without cognitive impairment. Additionally, participants cannot be affected by any severe chronic disease that compromise exercise.
• CF: 30 oldest old (80-90 years old) participants. They must be characterized by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subjective cognitive decline without functional deficits. Additionally, participants cannot be affected by any severe chronic disease that compromise exercise.

Exclusion Criteria YH

• Any medication
• Any disease
• General: pregnancy, addictive or previous addictive behavior defined as the abuse of cannabis, opioids or other drugs, carrier of infectious diseases.
• For TMS: Epilepsy, metallic prosthesis, malignant tumor

Exclusion Criteria OH

• Heart failure, angina, pulmonary disease.
• Cognitive frailty (MCI, Alzheimer) or physical frailty (musculoskeletal diseases)
• General: coagulation disorders, pregnancy, addictive or previous addictive behavior defined as the abuse of cannabis, opioids or other drugs, carrier of infectious diseases, suffering from musculoskeletal diseases, suffering from mental illness, inability to cooperate, subjects suffering from known cardiac conditions (e.g., pacemakers, arrhythmias, and cardiac conduction disturbances) or peripheral neuropathy. Moreover, subjects suffering from diabetes, arthritis and under medication will be scored according to specific criteria.
• Assumption of any anticoagulant medication
• Assumption of antiplatelet medications in high dose (es: acetylsalicylic acid >200mg x day)
• For TMS: Epilepsy, metallic prosthesis, malignant tumor
• For MRI: pacemaker, internal defibrillator or other ferromagnetic implants

Exclusion Criteria PF

• Simultaneous presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment (CDR=0.5)
• For exercise testing and training: heart failure, angina, pulmonary disease.
• General: coagulation disorders, pregnancy, addictive or previous addictive behavior defined as the abuse of cannabis, opioids or other drugs, carrier of infectious diseases, suffering from musculoskeletal diseases, suffering from mental illness, inability to cooperate, subjects suffering from known cardiac conditions (e.g., pacemakers, arrhythmias, and cardiac conduction disturbances) or peripheral neuropathy. Moreover, subjects suffering from diabetes, arthritis and under medication will be scored according to specific criteria.
• The T-scores for the whole body and PA-projection total spine parameters: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, participants will be diagnosed as having osteoporosis when the minimum T-score, measured at any site, will be less than -2.5, osteopenia if T-score between -1 and -2.5 and normal if T-score will be greater than -1 according to the World Health Organization guideline. Diagnosis will be made on basis of lowest T score at any measured site (T score ≥-1 SD = Normal; T score between -1 and -2.5 SD = Low bone mass, and T Score ≤-2.5 SD = Osteoporosis). T-score reference values are provided by the DXA scanner manufacturer.
• Assumption of any anticoagulant medication
• Assumption of antiplatelet medications in high dose (es: acetylsalicylic acid >200mg x day)
• For TMS: Epilepsy, metallic prosthesis, malignant tumor
• For MRI: pacemaker, internal defibrillator or other ferromagnetic implants
• Decline a priori to participate in the intervention Phase 2 of the study

• Cut-off exclusion criteria of PF:

  • Fried's Frailty Phenotype: < 3 positive characteristics
  • Timed-up-and-go test: <10 sec
  • The Multidimensional Prognostic Instrument (MPI): < 0.66 score
  • The GAITRite system: > 0.9 m/s
  • Groningen Frailty Indicator: <4

Exclusion Criteria CF

• Simultaneous presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment (CDR=0.5)
• For exercise testing and training: heart failure, angina, pulmonary disease.
• General: coagulation disorders, pregnancy, addictive or previous addictive behavior defined as the abuse of cannabis, opioids or other drugs, carrier of infectious diseases, suffering from musculoskeletal diseases, suffering from mental illness, inability to cooperate, subjects suffering from known cardiac conditions (e.g., pacemakers, arrhythmias, and cardiac conduction disturbances) or peripheral neuropathy. Moreover, subjects suffering from diabetes, arthritis and under medication will be scored according to specific criteria.
• The T-scores for the whole body and PA-projection total spine parameters: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, participants will be diagnosed as having osteoporosis when the minimum T-score, measured at any site, will be less than -2.5, osteopenia if T-score between -1 and -2.5 and normal if T-score will be greater than -1 according to the World Health Organization guideline. Diagnosis will be made on basis of lowest T score at any measured site (T score ≥-1 SD = Normal; T score between -1 and -2.5 SD = Low bone mass, and T Score ≤-2.5 SD = Osteoporosis). T-score reference values are provided by the DXA scanner manufacturer.
• Assumption of any anticoagulant medication
• Assumption of antiplatelet medications in high dose (es: acetylsalicylic acid >200mg x day)
• For TMS: Epilepsy, metallic prosthesis, malignant tumor
• For MRI: pacemaker, internal defibrillator or other ferromagnetic implants
• Decline a priori to participate in the intervention Phase 2 of the study

• Cut-off exclusion criteria of CF:

  • Mini Mental State (MMSE): cut-off 23.8
  • FCSRT: IFR (immediate free recall) cut off <19.59; ITR (immediate total recall) cut off<35; DFR (delayed free recall) cut off <6.31; DTR (delayed total recall) cut off<11; index of sensitivity of cueing cut off<0.9; Number of intrusions cut off>0
  • Digit Span: cut off 3.75
  • Digit Span Reversal (WAIS): cut off 2.65
  • Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test: cut off copy 28.88 - cut off
  • deferred reproduction 9.47
  • Trial Making Test A(ENB2): cut off >93 sec; TMT B (ENB2): cut off >282 sec; TMT B-A (ENB2): cut off>186 sec
  • Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB): cut off <13.4
  • Phonemic Fluency (ENB2): cut off 3
  • Clock Test: cut off <6.25
  • Time up and Go TUG-COG: cut off >15sec
  • Cognitive Function Instrument (partly for the caregiver): no cut-off
  • Neuropsychiatric Inventory (for the caregiver): cut-off >0
  • Geriatric Depression Scale: cut-off>10

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: CF; 30 participants (randomized in 3 groups) with CF will perform a program of intervention for 1 hour a day, 3 days per week, for 1 year.	Other: Exercise Training; The ET program will consist of endurance exercises at 70% of maximal Heart Rate and resistance exercises at 85% of 1 repetition maximum.; Other: Exercise Training + Cognitive Training; ET: The intervention program will consist of endurance exercises at 70% of maximal Heart Rate and resistance exercises at 85% of 1 repetition maximum. CT: The intervention program will be configured as a cognitive rehabilitation and mainly memory rehabilitation: the participants will be trained in practicing restorative and compensatory mnemonic techniques, such as visual imagery, face-name association, calendar, notes and prompts.; Other: Control; NO changes in lifestyle
EXPERIMENTAL: PF; 30 participants (randomized in 3 groups) with PF will perform a program of intervention for 1 hour a day, 3 days per week, for 1 year.	Other: Exercise Training; The ET program will consist of endurance exercises at 70% of maximal Heart Rate and resistance exercises at 85% of 1 repetition maximum.; Other: Exercise Training + Cognitive Training; ET: The intervention program will consist of endurance exercises at 70% of maximal Heart Rate and resistance exercises at 85% of 1 repetition maximum. CT: The intervention program will be configured as a cognitive rehabilitation and mainly memory rehabilitation: the participants will be trained in practicing restorative and compensatory mnemonic techniques, such as visual imagery, face-name association, calendar, notes and prompts.; Other: Control; NO changes in lifestyle

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Expression of potential biomarkers (circulating miRNA)	Noncoding RNAs, in particular, microRNAs (miRNAs), are a new regulatory system which plays a pivotal role in skeletal muscle adaptation and repairing.	3 years
Structural cerebral cortex adaptations (TMS)	Single-pulse TMS will be used to map the brain area representing the vastus lateralis (VL).	3 years
Functional cerebral cortex adaptations (TMS)	Single-pulse TMS will be used to investigate the excitability of the corticospinal system. A double-cone coil will be used to stimulate the leg area of the primary motor cortex (M1).	3 years
Modifications in the metabolism of cerebral areas (ASL-MRI)	To assess non-invasively cerebral blood flow (CBF)	3 years
Muscle mass alterations (DXA)	Muscle mass will be assessed with DXA	3 years
Alveolar profiles	Changes in biogenic volatile organic compound concentrations can be used to mirror metabolic or pathophysiological processes in the whole body	3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in muscular fiber type	Outcome of the changes in fiber typing on the components of the muscle mechanics in each group and Pre-Post intervention in CF and PF groups will be evaluated.	3 years
Changes in neuromuscular control 1	The force rate of development during a maximum voluntary contraction and a tetanic stimulation will be compared in order to estimate the role of central command flow to the muscle in changing the efficiency of the tension development at the tendon.	3 years
Changes in neuromuscular control 2	The EMG envelope rate of development during a maximum voluntary contraction and a tetanic stimulation will be compared in order to estimate the role of central command flow to the muscle in changing the efficiency of the tension development at the tendon.	3 years
Mitochondrial Respiration	Changes in mitochondrial respiration function will be measured to asses the level of mitochondrial dysfunction.	3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universita di Verona
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Massimo Venturelli, Ph.D., Universita Degli Studi Di Verona; Principal Investigator: Maria Romanelli, Ph.D., Universita Degli Studi Di Verona; Study Director: Federico Schena, Ph.D., Universita Degli Studi Di Verona; Study Director: Lidia Del Piccolo, Ph.D., Universita Degli Studi Di Verona

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hatse S, Brouwers B, Dalmasso B, Laenen A, Kenis C, Schoffski P, Wildiers H. Circulating MicroRNAs as easy-to-measure aging biomarkers in older breast cancer patients: correlation with chronological age but not with fitness/frailty status. PLoS One. 2014 Oct 21;9(10):e110644. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110644. eCollection 2014.
• Tan L, Yu JT, Tan MS, Liu QY, Wang HF, Zhang W, Jiang T, Tan L. Genome-wide serum microRNA expression profiling identifies serum biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;40(4):1017-27. doi: 10.3233/JAD-132144.
• Pfaffl MW. A new mathematical model for relative quantification in real-time RT-PCR. Nucleic Acids Res. 2001 May 1;29(9):e45. doi: 10.1093/nar/29.9.e45.
• Mayeux R, Stern Y. Epidemiology of Alzheimer disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012 Aug 1;2(8):a006239. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a006239.
• Pedrinolla A, Schena F, Venturelli M. Resilience to Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Physical Activity. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2017 Apr 3;14(5):546 - 553. doi: 10.2174/1567205014666170111145817.
• Popa-Wagner A, Mitran S, Sivanesan S, Chang E, Buga AM. ROS and brain diseases: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:963520. doi: 10.1155/2013/963520. Epub 2013 Dec 5.
• Rusanova I, Diaz-Casado ME, Fernandez-Ortiz M, Aranda-Martinez P, Guerra-Librero A, Garcia-Garcia FJ, Escames G, Manas L, Acuna-Castroviejo D. Analysis of Plasma MicroRNAs as Predictors and Biomarkers of Aging and Frailty in Humans. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Jul 18;2018:7671850. doi: 10.1155/2018/7671850. eCollection 2018.
• Princivalle A, Monasta L, Butturini G, Bassi C, Perbellini L. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma can be detected by analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in alveolar air. BMC Cancer. 2018 May 4;18(1):529. doi: 10.1186/s12885-018-4452-0.
• Alsop DC, Detre JA, Golay X, Gunther M, Hendrikse J, Hernandez-Garcia L, Lu H, MacIntosh BJ, Parkes LM, Smits M, van Osch MJ, Wang DJ, Wong EC, Zaharchuk G. Recommended implementation of arterial spin-labeled perfusion MRI for clinical applications: A consensus of the ISMRM perfusion study group and the European consortium for ASL in dementia. Magn Reson Med. 2015 Jan;73(1):102-16. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25197. Epub 2014 Apr 8.
• Buxton RB, Frank LR, Wong EC, Siewert B, Warach S, Edelman RR. A general kinetic model for quantitative perfusion imaging with arterial spin labeling. Magn Reson Med. 1998 Sep;40(3):383-96. doi: 10.1002/mrm.1910400308.
• Detre JA, Leigh JS, Williams DS, Koretsky AP. Perfusion imaging. Magn Reson Med. 1992 Jan;23(1):37-45. doi: 10.1002/mrm.1910230106.
• Du AT, Jahng GH, Hayasaka S, Kramer JH, Rosen HJ, Gorno-Tempini ML, Rankin KP, Miller BL, Weiner MW, Schuff N. Hypoperfusion in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease by arterial spin labeling MRI. Neurology. 2006 Oct 10;67(7):1215-20. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000238163.71349.78.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): September 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): December 31, 2022
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): December 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 22, 2019
• First Posted (ACTUAL): May 24, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): November 4, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 3, 2020
• Last Verified: November 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Cognitive Impairment; Sarcopenia; Frailty phenotype
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neurocognitive Disorders; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Cognition Disorders; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Cognitive Dysfunction; Frailty; Sarcopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 27111

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No