Changes in senescence markers after a weight loss intervention in older adults with obesity.

BACKGROUND

Understanding how weight loss interventions in older adults with obesity impact aging biology can lay the foundation for targeted, 'geroscience-based' interventions. This study examines the association between changes in the senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) and changes in function in response to a weight loss intervention.

METHODS

We conducted a post-hoc biomarker analysis on adults aged ≥ 65 years with body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2 enrolled in a six-month, non-randomized telemedicine-delivered weight loss intervention. We assessed 16 SASP cytokines using serum samples collected pre-and post-intervention. Clinical outcomes include anthropometric and physical function measurements. A weight loss responder was defined as a loss of ≥5 % of body weight.

RESULTS

Mean age was 73.2 ± 3.9 years (73 % female), and BMI was 36.5 ± 5.2 kg/m2. Responders lost 7.6 ± 2.5 %, while non-responders lost 2.0 ± 2.3 % of weight (n = 16 per group, p < 0.001). We observed several significant associations between SASP cytokines and physical function and anthropometric measurement outcomes in age- and sex-adjusted linear models. These included grip strength and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) (b = 9.07) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) (b = 2.6); gait speed and Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine (TARC) (b = 0.46) and IL-7(b = 61 0.11); weight IL-6 (b = -6.77) and IL-15 (b = -2.53); BMI and IL-15 (b = -0.95); waist-to-hip ratio and osteopontin (b = -0.07) (p < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot data demonstrated an association between changes in select SASP biomarkers and increased functional ability with intentional weight loss in older adults with obesity. However, findings must be replicated in prospective randomized trials with a control group and additional SASP biomarkers.