title: Walking speed as an aging biomarker in baboons (Papio hamadryas).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Walking speed is an important human aging biomarker. Baboons are valuable translational models for aging studies. Establishing whether walking speed is a good aging biomarker has value. We hypothesized there would be characteristic age-related decline in baboon walking speed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 33 female baboons aged 5-21 years. Walking speed was calculated by the time to walk between landmarks separated by known distances. A regression model was developed to describe the relationship between speed, age, and body weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speed negatively associated with age, a relationship enhanced by increased weight (P < 0.0005). For 16-kg animals, speed declined approximately 0.6 cm/s yearly. For each additional kilogram of weight, speed declined an additional 0.3 cm/s yearly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baboon walking speed declines with age, an effect modulated by weight. Ease of measurement and strong age association make walking speed a valuable biomarker for aging research with this important experimental species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Texas Pregnancy and Life-course Health Research Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
authors.forename: Hillary F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Gerow
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Texas Pregnancy and Life-course Health Research Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Nathanielsz
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D010215:Papio / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: age-related decline; gait speed; non-human primates; physical mobility