don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Our days begin with trouble here, Our life is but a span, And cruel death is always near, So frail a thing is man.

Anonymous

Some experts on aging speculate about preventing the declines associated with aging. Frailty, some suggest, might be an actual disease consisting of distinct and abnormal biochemical markers. If so, common physical signs and symptoms which we all associate with aging (for example, slower 10K times, wrinkles, hair loss and fewer overtures from attractive young people) might not be as inevitable as long assumed. Instead, these frailties might be prevented and/or cured via breakthrough medical research. Are these investigators on to something, or are they blowing arcane smoke at us and on each other? If they're on track to genuine aging breakthroughs, might we soon enjoy the best of both worlds, namely, senior discounts AND youthful vigor?

As a fitness enthusiast and wellness promoter, you'd think I would cheer and pass along such speculations. It's as if a study were to come out suggesting that subjects who read my book 14 Days To Wellness were found to be warmer in winter, cooler in summer and able to sleep better all year-round. Why would I question such brilliant findings? You would think that I, of all people, would be the last to quarrel with investigators who displayed the wisdom, discipline and breadth of vision to arrive at such a breakthrough conclusion. On the contrary, I would more likely be expected to cite the sponsor's superb academic and career records, his distinguished works and the faultless manner in which the study was conducted. However, I'm skeptical about this business of curing or eliminating frailty.

The latest work done on aging and frailty was summarized in a recent New York Times article entitled "Is Frailty Inevitable? Some Experts Say No" (November 19, 2002.) No, the researchers did not study the effects of reading 14 Days To Wellness on aging, but they did suggest that frailty may be avoidable "by correcting biochemical abnormalities!" Wow. "On what basis were such suggestions put forward," you might be wondering?

For starters, the researchers made an analogy between frailty and Alzheimer's Disease. Decades ago, the latter was also considered a part of aging. Before the disease became familiar, the symptoms of Alzheimer's were considered part of senility -- and believed to be inevitable realities associated with growing older. Eventually, doctors discovered biomedical locators for the disease, that specific proteins form in the brain which, if prevented, might cure or mitigate the disease. So, why not look for frailty markers, and treat such changes?

A first step for investigators interested in such frailty studies was to work with aging experts to define in precise fashion the nature and symptoms of the condition. What emerged from doing so was a set of consensus symptoms of frailty. In case you want to look in the mirror or do some tests at the gym, these are muscle weakness, fatigue, declines in activity, a slow or unsteady gait and weight loss. Anyone with three of more of these symptoms is adjudged as frail.

Once defined in this manner, researchers could assess the extent of frailty in seniors. Conveniently, a study already underway involving 5,000 subjects between ages 65 and 90 was adopted and expanded in order to assess frailty over a decade. The study resulted in a finding that only 7 percent of the aged were frail, a surprising result.

Of course, it should be evident that the extent of frailty depends on how it is defined. However, also consider that no matter how it is defined, frailty will still affect anyone who lives long enough. Even if defined in a preposterously restrictive manner, all who live long enough will become that way, in time. If, for example, it is so defined that only a bedridden and blind, incontinent and unaware 100 year-old qualifies, everyone will eventually achieve "fraildom!" As mentioned, everyone will achieve it, unless of course the Grim Reaper shows up first to put an end to the charade of calling such an existence a real life.

In the study noted, only 3 percent of the people aged 65 to 69 met the newly set frailty standards. Of those 80 or older, up to 30 percent "qualified." The investigators also drew a number of rather obvious conclusions, such as the more frailty indicators one had, the more likely he was to get more!

In looking for biochemical indicators of frailty, blood proteins were identified in relation to chronic inflammation showing infection or irritation in body tissues. Some researchers associate increased levels of inflammatory proteins as predictors of diminished muscle mass, which is one of the favored indicators of frailty.

The bottom line was that exercise and other wellness attitudes and behaviors protect muscle mass and other factors associated with all frailty indicators. Just don't expect that wellness, any more than riches, prayer, drugs, rain dances or Faustian arrangements with the forces of darkness, will keep you young, beautiful and strong forevermore. As one investigator told the Times reporter, "There are people who exercise like crazy and still get frail."

Be realistic, stay fit, be well and look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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