Functional and biological characterisation to maximise prevention and treatment of
age-related diseases
Andrea B. Maier
AgeMelbourne, Department of Medicine and Aged Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
AgeAmsterdam, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, The Netherlands.
The aging process occurs gradually, is highly individual, with a high degree of inter and intra-individual differences. As such, within an aging population there is significant variation in regards to the number and severity of age-related disease and functional impairment. This variability between individuals is thought to be reflected by the biological age. Currently, the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), a multidimensional, interdisciplinary diagnostic process is used to determine an individual’s medical, psychological and functional capability at older age. However, while the CGA utilises well-established markers of physical and
functional parameters, it does not include any molecular measures that indicate pathophysiological mechanisms. Furthermore, measures included in the CGA are not suitable for the use in younger populations at risk of functional decline. Combining a wide range of functional measures with molecular markers of biological age, could improve the current CGA by identifying individuals undergoing a rapid aging process or being at risk of functional decline. The characterisation of individuals on functional and biological level is needed to maximize treatment effects.
AgeMelbourne, Department of Medicine and Aged Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
AgeAmsterdam, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, The Netherlands.
The aging process occurs gradually, is highly individual, with a high degree of inter and intra-individual differences. As such, within an aging population there is significant variation in regards to the number and severity of age-related disease and functional impairment. This variability between individuals is thought to be reflected by the biological age. Currently, the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), a multidimensional, interdisciplinary diagnostic process is used to determine an individual’s medical, psychological and functional capability at older age. However, while the CGA utilises well-established markers of physical and
functional parameters, it does not include any molecular measures that indicate pathophysiological mechanisms. Furthermore, measures included in the CGA are not suitable for the use in younger populations at risk of functional decline. Combining a wide range of functional measures with molecular markers of biological age, could improve the current CGA by identifying individuals undergoing a rapid aging process or being at risk of functional decline. The characterisation of individuals on functional and biological level is needed to maximize treatment effects.
