title: Heterogeneity of Physical Function Responses to Exercise in Older Adults: Possible Contribution of Variation in the Angiotensin-1 Converting Enzyme (ACE) Gene?
abstract: Behavioral exercise interventions, aimed at improving either aerobic endurance or muscular strength, are currently the only therapy found, on average, to consistently retard loss of physical function in aging adults. However, not all individuals experience the same magnitude of benefit from a given exercise treatment, and certain persons may respond more favorably to a particular mode of exercise than another. Research now shows that genetic predisposition is one of the factors accounting for interindividual differences in responses to exercise as well as differences in the propensity to engage in exercise. This article discusses how a common variant in a single gene (the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme gene) could emerge as a prospective tool to identify older individuals more likely to benefit from and adhere to a specific type of exercise activity over another type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC bnicklas@wfubmc.edu.
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nicklas
keywords: angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE); exercise; genetics; physical function