The Link between Insulin Resistance and Mobility Limitation in Older Persons

Title:The Link between Insulin Resistance and Mobility Limitation in Older Persons

Volume: 20 Issue: 19

Author(s): Virginia Boccardi and Giuseppe Paolisso

Affiliation:

Keywords: Insulin resistance, mobility limitation, older persons.

Abstract: In this report we will provide additional insight on the individual features of age-related causes of mobility limitation, explaining why insulin resistance, related to lower muscle functioning, sub-inflammation and hormonal changes, may contribute to its onset and sustain it. According to the recent literature, the same factors playing a role in the onset and maintenance of insulin resistance are related to mobility limitation. Thus, the presence of insulin resistance can be considered a biomarker of susceptibility to mobility limitation among older persons. All described factors related to both conditions are strictly intertwined. Therefore, the identification and correction of a single factor is difficult to convert into clinical practice. Instead, insulin resistance may be considered not only an early biological marker, but also a predictive and modifiable marker of mobility limitation. Thus, interventions aimed at correcting insulin resistance may have a potential role in preventing or at least slowing down functional decline in the elderly population, promoting a better quality of life and potentially extending the “healthspan”.

Cite this article as:

Boccardi Virginia and Paolisso Giuseppe, The Link between Insulin Resistance and Mobility Limitation in Older Persons, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (19) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660683