ACTIVAGE is a project designed to study the role of physical activity (PA) on healthy aging (HA). We will use a longitudinal cohort to investigate clinical outcomes, functional levels of HA, physical performance, and biomarkers of aging. The study will follow elderly patients with acute cardiac events (MI), pre-elderly and elderly without MI, randomly assigned to treatment (PA + health education) or control (health education only) groups. Specifically, the following aspects will be monitored: cardiac health and HA levels; Physical performance; Biomarkers of aging (circulating and systemic). In addition, we will investigate the molecular mechanisms that explain the effects of PA on HA (WP4).Finally, we will engage in a qualitative study to analyze patients' perceptions of the proposed intervention, identify barriers to transferability, and conduct a cost-benefit analysis to measure its economic impact.
18 October 2024 – 28 February 2025
In the first period, the ACTIVAGE project – Effect of physical activity on accelerated ageing trajectories: impact on cardiovascular diseases and ageing biomarkers – began enrolling three groups of subjects (elderly patients with a history of MI, elderly and pre-elderly individuals without MI) in the Pipeline, Samcro and Immunetà, with two-year clinical follow-up, collection of biological samples (PBMC, plasma) and access to data from the international VITAL cohort. In WP2, a personalised supervised physical activity programme was implemented (1 km treadmill walking test with Borg scale, OTAGO exercises, home walking), with measurements of estimated VO₂, average and maximum speed, handgrip, SPPB, 7-day LTPA questionnaire, and baseline data storage. Laboratory analyses (WP3) on cellular and circulating biomarkers of senescence and immunosenescence have not yet begun due to administrative delays in the purchase of reagents and the need to accumulate adequate samples; However, protocols have been developed (SA-β-gal, DDR, telomeres, SASP multiplex, naive T cell count, TREC assays) and international collaborations established (Innsbruck, Bordeaux, Paris-Diderot). WP4 is currently undergoing methodological preparation (SCENITH, miRNA primers, phospho-flow) for future analyses on subgroups with different healthy ageing trajectories. WP5 is scheduled for the second half of the project (patient experience, cost-benefit analysis). The main critical issues (delayed start and stop of reagent purchases) have postponed laboratory analyses, but recruitment and PA programmes are active, with a recovery plan in place for the next phases.