ORCID Profile
0000-0001-5498-4453
Current Organisation
Trinity College Dublin
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Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-12-2022
Abstract: Sarcopenia and orthostatic hypotension are growing age-related health burdens associated with adverse outcomes, including falls. Despite a possible pathophysiological link, the association between the 2 disorders is not well elucidated. We sought to investigate this relationship in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Data from 2 858 participants at wave 3 of TILDA were analyzed. Probable sarcopenia was defined as per the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People revised definition cutoffs (hand grip strength [HGS] & kg in men, & kg in women, and/or 5-chair stand test [5CST] time & seconds). Participants underwent an active stand orthostatic test with continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Multilevel mixed-effects models, controlling for possible confounders, were used to assess the effect of probable sarcopenia by HGS and 5CST criteria on the change in BP after standing. HGS- and 5CST-defined probable sarcopenia were independently associated with an attenuated BP recovery at 10–20 seconds poststand (systolic BP: β −0.54, p & .001 β −0.25, p & .001). On average, those meeting HGS probable sarcopenia criteria had a significantly lower BP at 20, 30, and 40 seconds (differences in systolic BP: −5.01 mmHg, −3.68 mmHg, −2.32 mmHg, p & .05 for all). Those meeting 5CST probable sarcopenia criteria had a significant difference in systolic BP at 20 seconds (−1.94 mmHg, p = .002) but not at 30 or 40 seconds. Probable sarcopenia had a significant association with delayed orthostatic BP recovery, with HGS-defined probable sarcopenia having a stronger association than 5CST-defined probable sarcopenia. Results support a modest but significant pathophysiological link between probable sarcopenia and orthostatic hypotension.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-11-2017
DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2017.1403633
Abstract: To investigate plasma lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) concentrations with grading-confirmed and self-reported prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Data collected from a nationally representative prospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and over in the Republic of Ireland. Participants underwent a computer-assisted personal interview and a center-based health assessment. Plasma concentrations of L and total Z (Z and meso-zeaxanthin [MZ]) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography, and retinal photographs were graded using a version of the AMD International Classification and Grading System. Consumption of supplements containing L and/or Z and/or MZ was recorded as supplement use. Four groups were identified: Group 1 (n = 24): AMD-afflicted and correctly aware Group 2 (n = 264): AMD-afflicted but unaware Group 3 (n = 41): AMD-free and incorrectly believed that they were afflicted with the condition Group 4 (n = 4094): AMD-free and correctly self-reported absence of AMD. Of 4,423 participants with plasma concentrations of L and Z and gradable retinal photographs, 288 (6.5%) were afflicted with AMD, and 65 (1.5%) self-reported AMD. Controlling for family history and age, the relationship between grading-confirmed AMD and plasma L was positive and significant (p < 0.001). Mean plasma concentrations of L in Group 2 (mean = 0.2162 ± 0.132 µmol) and Group 4 (mean = 0.2040 ± 0.121 µmol/L) were significantly lower than Group 1 (mean = 0.4691 ± 0.0.372 µmol/L) and Group 3 (mean = 0.3176 ± 0.0.235 µmol/L). Supplement use was reported by 41.7% and 17.1% of participants in Groups 1 and 3, respectively, but only 2.7% and 1.9% of participants in Groups 2 and 4, respectively. A belief that one suffers from AMD, whether justified or not, is associated with supplement use and with higher plasma concentrations of L.
Publisher: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing
Date: 16-02-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-11-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-16391-5
Abstract: Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with earlier onset of age-related chronic conditions and reduced life-expectancy, but the underlying biomolecular mechanisms remain unclear. Evidence of DNA-methylation differences by SES suggests a possible association of SES with epigenetic age acceleration (AA). We investigated the association of SES with AA in more than 5,000 in iduals belonging to three independent prospective cohorts from Italy, Australia, and Ireland. Low SES was associated with greater AA (β = 0.99 years 95% CI 0.39,1.59 p = 0.002 comparing extreme categories). The results were consistent across different SES indicators. The associations were only partially modulated by the unhealthy lifestyle habits of in iduals with lower SES. In iduals who experienced life-course SES improvement had intermediate AA compared to extreme SES categories, suggesting reversibility of the effect and supporting the relative importance of the early childhood social environment. Socioeconomic adversity is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging, implicating biomolecular mechanisms that may link SES to age-related diseases and longevity.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 28-06-2023
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0287169
Abstract: Research studies have observed associations of vitamin D with inflammation but data in representative older adult studies is lacking. We aimed to investigate the association of C-reactive protein (CRP) with vitamin D status in a representative s le of the older Irish population. The concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and CRP was measured in 5,381 community dwelling Irish adults aged ≥50 years from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Demographic, health and lifestyle variables were assessed by questionnaire and categorical proportions of CRP were generated by vitamin D status and age. Multi-nominal logistic regression was used to investigate the association of 25(OH)D and CRP status. The prevalence (mean 95% confidence interval (95% CI)) of normal CRP status (0–5 mg/dL) was 83.9% (82.6–85.0%), elevated status (5–10 mg/dL) 11.0% (9.9–12.0%) and high status ( mg/dL) was 5.1% (4.5–5.8%). Mean (95% CI) CRP concentrations were lower in those with normal vs. deficient 25(OH)D status (2.02 mg/dL (1.95–2.08) vs. 2.60 mg/dL (2.41–2.82) p .0001). In a logistic regression analysis, those with insufficient or sufficient 25(OH)D status were less likely to have a high CRP status compared to those with deficient 25(OH)D status (insufficient: coefficient (CE) -0.732, 95% CI -1.12–0.33, p .0001 sufficient: CE -0.599, 95% CI -0.95–0.24, p = 0.001). In conclusion older adults with deficient vitamin D status had higher levels of inflammation as measured by CRP. Given that inflammation is an important pathological driver of chronic diseases of ageing, and that emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D therapy can reduce inflammation in some disease settings, optimising vitamin D status could represent an effective low risk/low-cost pathway to modulate inflammation in community dwelling older adults.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 23-02-2015
No related grants have been discovered for Aisling O'Halloran.