Effects of a One-Year Physical Activity Program on Serum C-Terminal Agrin Fragment (CAF) Concentrations among Mobility-Limited Older Adults.
OBJECTIVE
C-terminal Agrin Fragment (CAF) has been proposed as a potential circulating biomarker for predicting changes in physical function among older adults. To determine the effect of a one-year PA intervention on changes in CAF concentrations and to evaluate baseline and longitudinal associations between CAF concentrations and indices of physical function.


METHODS
Ancillary study to the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P), a multi-site randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the effects of chronic exercise on the physical function of older adults at risk for mobility disability.


METHODS
Four academic research centers within the U.S.


METHODS
Three hundred thirty three older adults aged 70 to 89 with mild to moderate impairments in physical function.


METHODS
A 12-month intervention of either structured physical activity (PA) or health education promoting successful aging (SA).


METHODS
Serum CAF concentrations and objectives measures of physical function - i.e. gait speed and performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).


RESULTS
The group*time interaction was not significant for serum CAF concentrations (p=0.265), indicating that the PA intervention did not significantly reduce serum CAF levels compared to SA. Baseline gait speed was significantly correlated with baseline CAF level (r = -0.151, p= 0.006), however the association between CAF and SPPB was not significant. Additionally, neither baseline nor the change in CAF concentrations strongly predicted the change in either performance measure following the PA intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the present study shows that a one-year structured PA program did not reduce serum CAF levels among mobility-limited older adults. However, further study is needed to definitively determine the utility of CAF as a biomarker of physical function.
Thomas W. Buford, PhD, Translational Exercise, Aging, and Muscle Laboratory, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, Telephone: 352-273-5918, Fax: 352-273-5920, Email: tbuford@ufl.edu.
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D018171:Agrin / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014481:United States
D018171:Agrin; D015415:Biomarkers