title: The influence of age and aerobic fitness on chromosomal damage in Austrian institutionalised elderly.
abstract: Ageing goes hand in hand with altered DNA repair and defence mechanisms against DNA damage. To improve the body's overall resistance against chromosomal damage, maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is of great concern, especially in the elderly. As more and more people are getting older, they change from home living to an institutionalised situation, which is often accompanied by malnutrition, depression and inactivity. So far, there is a lack of data on chromosomal damage in relation to age and fitness status. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of age and aerobic fitness on endpoints of DNA damage in 105 institutionalised women and men (65-98 years) living in Vienna. Chromosomal damage was measured by conducting the cytokinesis block micronucleus cytome assay. Aerobic fitness of the participants was assessed using the 6-min walking test. To investigate the effect of age on micronuclei (MN) frequency and evaluate the particular age group, our data were merged with data from a recent study by Wallner et al. (Effects of unconjugated bilirubin on chromosomal damage in individuals with Gilbert's syndrome measured with the micronucleus cytome assay. Mutagenesis 2012; 27: 731-735). Age and MN frequency correlated significantly for squared regression (r = 0.577; P = 0.000) and showed a levelling-off at ~60 years of age. Furthermore, we observed a significant negative linear correlation (r = -0.222; P = 0.03) between MN frequency and 6-min walking performance. There was a plateau-like effect of the MN frequency above the age of 60-70 years, indicating a higher resistance against chromosomal damage of the 'survivors' of the regular lifespan. This study suggests that aerobic fitness 'protects' against chromosomal damage at high age.
authors.affiliation: Research Platform Active Ageing, Faculty of Life Sciences and Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Franzke
authors.affiliation: Research Platform Active Ageing, Faculty of Life Sciences and Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halper
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Physiology, Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Auf der Schmelz 6, 1150 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.affiliation: Research Platform Active Ageing, Faculty of Life Sciences and Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Heidemarie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peherstorfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krejci
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geider
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Decision Support Systems, Institute for Statistics and Operations Research, University of Vienna, Grillparzerstraße 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria and.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baierl
authors.affiliation: Research Platform Active Ageing, Faculty of Life Sciences and Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Anela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosevska
authors.affiliation: Karl Landsteiner Institute for Remobilization and Functional Health, Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaiser Franz Joseph Hospital, SMZ-Süd, Kundratstrasse 3, 1100 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Strasser
authors.affiliation: Research Platform Active Ageing, Faculty of Life Sciences and Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Department of Sport and Exercise Physiology, Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Auf der Schmelz 6, 1150 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wessner
authors.affiliation: Research Platform Active Ageing, Faculty of Life Sciences and Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, karl-heinz.wagner@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult