Nearly half of people in their forties show as many symptoms that could lead to frailty as people in their seventies, a new study reveals.
Australian scientists found signs of ‘pre-frailty’ in 45 per cent of people in their forties, which was about the same percentage of people aged between 70 and 75.
Signs of pre-frailty include poor lower limb strength, poor balance, poor foot sensation, pelvic floor problems and bad nutrition.
Frailty describes a condition of becoming weaker and more delicate, generally associated with older age, which can be a result of ‘pre-frailty’.
It incorporates a decline in general health, energy levels and cognition – all of which can all lead to increased susceptibility to further illness and hospital admissions.
However, exercise, a better diet, decent sleep and mental health care can help ward off health problems for people in their 40s, and could mean a less frail later life on.
Pre-frailty – which can include attributes like poor dynamic trunk stability and lower limb strength, poor balance and pelvic floor problems – occurs in 45 per cent f people aged 40 to 49, which is about the same percentage of people aged 70 to 75
‘You don’t have to be in your 70s or 80s to be heading down the path to frailty – age doesn’t matter,’ said study author Professor Sue Gordon from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
‘Successful healthy ageing interventions and self-management should commence in at least the fourth decade of life focusing on these factors which contribute to pre-frailty and frailty.’
The research team studied 656 healthy people aged 40 to 75 living independently at home for 18 months.
They assessed the participants’ sleep quality, nutrition, hydration and activity patterns, as well as the number of falls and ‘near misses’ they suffered.
The team also analysed blood pressure, heart rate, balance, cognition and memory and how they managed anxiety and depression.
Scientists highlighted poor balance, weak lower limb strength, poor nutrition and problems with pelvic floor muscles – those around the groin that help prevent incontinence – as ‘pre-frailty’ indicators.
Frailty factors include poor mental state from living alone, high psychological distress, poor lung function and poor sleep quality.
Results showed ‘pre-frailty’ occurred in 45 per cent of people aged 40 to 49 – about the same percentage of people aged 70 to 75.
In the selection of 50 to 59 year olds, 34.6 per cent in total were defined as pre-frail – but this dropped to 34.3 per cent in the 60 to 69-year-olds.
Researchers are urging people as young as 40 to build physical and mental health to reduce or even avoid ‘frailty’ in later life
Meanwhile, in the 70 to 75-year-olds, 44.4 per cent were pre-frail – very slightly less than the sample of people in their forties – and 1.3 per cent were actually frail.
Overall, of the 656 participants – who had an average age of 59.9 years – 39 per cent were classed as pre-frail.
‘We were alarmed by the prevalence of pre-frailty in our sample and its occurrence in people aged 40 to 59 years,’ said Professor Gordon.
‘Our findings suggest that there are many people aged 40 years or older whose frailty status could potentially be addressed by increasing physical activity, building muscle, improving exercise tolerance, nutrition and mental health.’
The coronavirus lockdown period is a good time to start regular at-home workouts to hold off symptoms of frailty
Experts say it is not too late for people in their 40s or even younger to avoid poor health and frailty in older age.
They are encouraging people to take matters into their own hands and shun their bad habits such as physical inactivity and bad posture.
Increasing physical activity, building muscle, improving nutrition and boosting mental health will help them in their mission.
Options for improving health are available online during the coronavirus lockdown makes it the perfect time to start, researchers say.
‘People working from home during the self-isolation period can take the opportunity to reassess their health, habits and routines to seek ways to make their daily routines and homes better places to live, and live longer in the process,’ said Professor Anthony Maeder of Flinders University.
The study was published online in the journal BMC Geriatrics.