Perceived and Performance Fatigability in Understanding Healthy Aging: Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)

Chair(s)

• NG

  Nancy Glynn, PhD, FGSA, FACSM (she/her/hers)

  Associate Professor of Epidemiology
  Epidemiology
  University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Co-Chair(s)

• PC

  Peggy Cawthon, PhD, MPH

  Scientific Director
  Research Institute
  California Pacific Medical Center
  San Francisco, California, United States

Discussant(s)

• 

  Jennifer Schrack, PhD, FGSA (she/her/hers)

  Professor
  Epidemiology
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• RG

  Reagan Garcia, MPH

  PhD Student
  Epidemiology
  University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
• 

  Kyle Moored, PhD, MS (he/him/his)

  Assistant Research Professor
  Mental Health
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• 

  Caterina Rosano, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)

  Tenured Professor
  Epidemiology
  University of Pittsburgh
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
• EG

  Emma Gay, MPH (she/her/hers)

  T32 Predoctoral Trainee
  Department of Epidemiology
  University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Characterizing fatigability, the quantification of an individual’s susceptibility to fatigue in the context of standardized physical task(s), is a more sensitive approach to assess the presence and severity of fatigue, a critical prodromal trait of chronic and acute health conditions. We have validated measures of perceived physical fatigability (Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale, PFS) and performance fatigability (Performance Deterioration [PD, measured during a fast-paced 400m walk by calculating gait speed of lap2-lap9/lap2*100] and the Pittsburgh Performance Fatigability Index [PPFI, measured during a usual-paced 400m by using wrist-worn raw accelerometry data to quantify percent cadence decline). Our symposium will capitalize on the extensive phenotype data collected at baseline in SOMMA (N=879, mean age 76.3±5.0 years; walking speed 1.04±0.20 m/s; 59.2% women; 85% white), to further elucidate the correlates and consequences associated with greater perceived and/or performance fatigability in order to inform potential interventions to promote healthy aging. First, Ms. Reagan Garcia will examine whether time spent in activPAL measured sedentary behaviors are related to higher perceived physical fatigability (PFS). Next, Dr. Kyle Moored will share findings on the role of maximal treadmill cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) and PFS on life-space mobility and whether these associations are moderated by perceived neighborhood factors. Dr. Caterina Rosano will explore the association between nigrostriatal dopaminergic integrity and performance fatigability (PD). Lastly, Ms. Emma Gay will be comparing skeletal muscle energetics and walking energetics profiles of those with lower PFS/lower PPFI vs. higher PFS/higher PPFI. Discussant, Dr. Jennifer Schrack will offer insights for new directions for fatigability research.

Presentations:

• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  Association of Sedentary Behaviors With Perceived Physical Fatigability
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Reagan E. Garcia, MPH – University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  Physical Fitness, Fatigability, and Life-Space Mobility: Differences by Neighborhood Context
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kyle D. Moored, PhD, MS (he/him/his) – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  Nigrostriatal Dopamine and Physical Performance Fatigability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Caterina Rosano, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – University of Pittsburgh
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  Discovering Bioenergetic and Fitness Profiles of Combined Perceived and Performance Fatigability
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Emma Gay, MPH (she/her/hers) – University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health