A study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland has found that in old age, a tighter interlinkage between different domains of functional capacity may indicate a loss of system resilience. The study looked at how disruptions in one domain of functional capacity can affect others, leading to a collapse in overall functioning. It emphasizes the importance of taking care of physical and mental well-being as a whole to maintain resilience in old age.
Human functional capacity can be seen as an ecosystem with different components such as mobility, sensory, cognitive, and mental functions. As people age, the resilience of this system allows it to maintain and recover when faced with challenges. The study used network analysis to investigate the interconnectedness of these domains of functional capacity and found that they were more closely linked in older individuals and those with poorer health. This interconnectedness can lead to vulnerabilities in the system, similar to how interconnected economies are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
A resilient functional capacity system has sufficient reserves, such as muscle strength, to prevent disruptions in one area from affecting the rest of the system. People can adapt and compensate for impaired capacities if they have enough reserve capacity. However, as compensatory mechanisms are depleted, the resilience of functional capacity decreases. Maintaining independence between different aspects of physical and mental functioning is crucial to prevent a domino effect that can collapse the system.
The researchers believe that applying approaches to systems resilience from other disciplines can help in understanding health and functional capacity in old age. They note that sudden shifts or critical transitions in health and functioning can occur when disturbances exceed the body’s capacity to cope. By studying tipping points between “functional ability” and “impaired functioning,” researchers hope to identify warning signs and prevent rapid declines in health and functioning in aging populations.
This study is part of the AGNES project, which involved over a thousand individuals aged 75, 80, and 85 in Jyväskylä, Finland. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences and the Gerontology Research Center and funded by the European Research Council and the Research Council of Finland. By understanding the interconnectedness of different domains of functional capacity and the importance of resilience in old age, researchers hope to improve quality of life and maintain functional capacity for as long as possible in aging societies.
