DIGGING DEEPER: INSIGHTS INTO PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE HEALTH USING NOVEL METHODS FOR ACCELEROMETRY AND FUNCTION

• Published in: Innovation in aging 2018-11, Vol.2 (suppl_1), p.411-412
• Main Authors: Schrack, J A, Manini, T M, Bandeen-Roche, K J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1538

This symposium will focus on new methods to interpret and understand physical and cognitive health outcomes using data from wearable accelerometers and a traditional 400-meter walk protocol. Using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and the Patient Reported Outcomes of Mood Pain and faTigue (PROMPT) study, we will discuss new insights into accelerometer-based activity metrics, as well as modeling of 400-meter lap-time variability, to enhance our knowledge of factors contributing to physical and cognitive health outcomes in older adults. Specifically, we will demonstrate methods to: (i) quantify objective physical activity volume, fragmentation, and bout lengths as predictors of mortality, (ii) link characteristics of daily physical activity (e.g., volume, fragmented patterns) to cognitive domains including memory, executive function, and visuospatial function, (iii) demonstrate a novel method to quantify lap-time variability during the 400m walk, and (iv) examine ecological momentary assessments of pain and activity patterns. Collectively, these presentations will present novel, advanced, and yet simple approaches to analyze and interpret objective measures of activity and function to reveal unexplored characteristics of healthy aging and maintenance of well-being. Further development and application of the methodology presented in this symposium will: (i) highlight cutting-edge methods to assess the effects of activity patterns on physical and cognitive outcomes with aging, and (ii) contribute to future efforts to optimize interventions that extend healthy longevity and delay adverse health outcomes related to aging.