Functional performance among older people and factors that predict its changes

Functional performance among older people and factors that predict its changes

The purpose of this 2008 launched study is to examine the factors that are associated with the functional performance among the old (aged 65 years and older) and the oldest-old (aged 90 years and over) men and women. In addition, we investigate factors that predict changes in functional performance This study utilizes pre–existing data from The Vitality 90+-study and The Finnish Twin Study on Aging (FITSA).

Our longitudinal data offers the opportunity to investigate the importance of biological mechanisms together with genetic factors in the development of functional limitations among a sample of older and especially among the oldest old persons. Results of this study will also help to understand why some persons can live without functional disabilities to very old age whereas others suffer from mobility limitations even at younger ages.

Principal investigator

PhD Kristina Tiainen, kristina.tiainen[at]uta.fi, School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere

Funding

Wihuri foundation

Finnish Cultural Foundation

ERA-AGE/FLARE (Future Leaders of Aging Research in Europe) post doc programme

Selected publications

Tiainen K, Jylhä M, Thinggaard M, Christensen K, Christiansen L. Associations between inflammatory markers, candidate polymorphisms and physical performance in older Danish Twins. Experimental Gerontology 47: 109-115, 2012.

Tiainen K, Hurme M, Hervonen A, Jylhä M. Inflammatory markers and physical performance among nonagenarians. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 65: 658-663, 2010.