Association of frailty status in older adults with immunological endocrine and oxidative stress biomarkers
- Marcos-Pérez, Diego
- Blanca Laffon Director
- Vanessa Valdiglesias Co-director
Defence university: Universidade da Coruña
Fecha de defensa: 04 July 2019
- Héctor González Pardo Chair
- Amaya Azqueta Oscoz Secretary
- Joana Madureira Committee member
Type: Thesis
Abstract
Frailty is a multidimensional geriatric syndrome of loss of reserves and increased vulnerability to stressors. Currently, frailty identification is based on phenotypic characteristics. Due to the well-known reversibility of frailty, early identification is crucial. Biomarkers can be useful tools for the early and accurate detection of frail individuals. Thus, the main objective of this study was to investigate the possible relationship of different biomarkers with frailty in older adults. To that aim, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of older adults (aged 65 years and over) classified according to their frailty status, determining a set of biomarkers related to immune activation and inflammation, to endocrine system, and to oxidative stress. Results obtained revealed significant differences in the levels of several immunological biomarkers and cortisol between frail and non-frail individuals, but no association was found between any oxidative stress biomarker and frailty status Data presented in this study provide support to the hypothesis that frailty status in older adults is associated with an additional degree of immune stimulation and inflammation, and with agerelated hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis dysregulation.