Genetic and Environmental Influences on Longitudinal Frailty Trajectories From Adulthood into Old Age Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • AbstractBackgroundFrailty is a complex, dynamic geriatric condition, but limited evidence has shown how genes and environment may contribute to its longitudinal changes. We sought to investigate sources of individual differences in the longitudinal trajectories of frailty, considering potential selection bias when including a sample of oldest-old twins.MethodsData were from 2 Swedish twin cohort studies: a younger cohort comprising 1 842 adults aged 29–96 years followed up to 15 waves, and an older cohort comprising 654 adults aged ≥79 years followed up to 5 waves. Frailty was measured using the frailty index (FI). Age-based latent growth curve models were used to examine longitudinal trajectories, and extended to a biometric analysis to decompose variability into genetic and environmental etiologies.ResultsA bilinear model with an inflection point at age 75 best described the data, indicating a fourfold to fivefold faster FI increase after 75 years. Twins from the older cohort had significantly higher mean FI at baseline but slower rate of increase afterward. FI level at age 75 was moderately heritable in both men (42%) and women (55%). Genetic influences were relatively stable across age for men and increasing for women, although the most salient amplification in FI variability after age 75 was due to individual-specific environmental influences for both men and women; conclusions were largely consistent when excluding the older cohort.ConclusionIncreased heterogeneity of frailty in late life is mainly attributable to environmental influences, highlighting the importance of targeting environmental risk factors to mitigate frailty in older adults.

publication date

  • February 24, 2023

has restriction

  • hybrid

Date in CU Experts

  • January 30, 2024 10:15 AM

Full Author List

  • Mak JKL; Kuja-Halkola R; Bai G; Hassing LB; Pedersen NL; Hägg S; Jylhävä J; Reynolds CA

Full Editor List

  • Lipsitz LA

author count

  • 8

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1079-5006

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1758-535X

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 333

end page

  • 341

volume

  • 78

issue

  • 2