Cerebral Metabolic Rate of Oxygen and Accelerometry-Based Fatigability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 13:2025.01.11.25320396. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.11.25320396.

Abstract

Alterations in energy metabolism may drive fatigue in older age, but prior research primarily focused on skeletal muscle energetics without assessing other systems, and utilized self-reported measures of fatigue. We tested the association between energy metabolism in the brain and an objective measure of fatigability in the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (N=119, age 76.8±4.0 years, 59.7% women). Total brain cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO 2 ) was measured using arterial spin labeling and T 2 -relaxation under spin tagging MRI protocols. Accelerometry-based fatigability status during a fast-paced 400m walk was determined using the Pittsburgh Fatigability Index (PPFI, higher=worse). Confounders included skeletal muscle energetics, measured in vivo using spectroscopy and ex vivo using respirometry, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 peak), weight, medication count, and multimorbidity. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association (odds ratio (OR)) of CMRO 2 with PPFI>0 compared to the referent group PPFI=0. Models were first adjusted for age and sex, and further adjusted for confounders. In this sample, 41.2% had PPFI>0 (median 3.3% [0.4-8.0%]). CMRO 2 was positively associated with PPFI>0 (age and sex adjusted OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.45, p=0.03); adjustment for confounders attenuated the association. The positive association of brain energetics and fatigability warrants further study in older adults.

Publication types

  • Preprint