Leader: Antonio Paoli (UNIPD); Other collaborator(s): Gioi Spinello, Tatiana Moro (UNIPD)
Aging process modifies how human body respond to different stimuli such as exercise and nutrition. The aims are: i) determine how previous behaviors influence skeletal muscle response to exercise and nutrition programs designed to maintain muscle mass and functionality; ii) determine which nutritional factor (caloric restriction, fasting, protein quality/quantity) enhances the positive effects of exercise on different physiological (muscle strength/quality, VO2max, ventilation, balance, etc) and cognitive variables; iii) design new tools (wearables, apps) aimed to increase healthy habits compliance and to measure physiological (hydration, heart rate, etc) and behavioral (steps, sedentary time, etc) daily variations to give (through also machine learning processes) tailored suggestions for a proper exercise and correct personalized nutrition.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
Considering that the app and website development are fundamental for a full accompilshment of WP’s objectives, researchers are currently working to build the methodological bases for app and website implementation. Research on training effects on elderly muscle, focus groups on app and websites usability. All these activities constitute the foundations ossubsequential interventions
- Acquiring technology for appropriate testing
- Preparing ethical committee request
- Preparing MOP and SOP per experimental setting
- Review of literature
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
Potential practice implication
- determine how previous behaviours influence skeletal muscle response to exercise and nutrition programs designed to maintain muscle mass and functionality, this will allow to design tailored exercise interventions to improve skeletal mass quantity and quality;
- determine which nutritional factor (caloric restriction, fasting, protein quality/quantity) enhances the positive effects of exercise on different physiological (muscle strength/quality, VO2max, ventilation, balance, etc) variables, this will allow to better understand how manage nutrition in a real setting;
Potential Policy implications
- Implement subsidized nutrition programs specifically tailored to older adults, ensuring access to healthy and balanced meals.
- Identify age-friendly design principles into urban planning to encourage active living, such as well-lit walking paths, accessible parks, and benches for resting.
- Provide data for healthcare professionals about geriatric nutrition and exercise to better address the unique needs of older patients during medical consultations.
Potential Industry implications
- design new tools (wearables, apps) aimed to increase healthy habits compliance and to measure physiological (hydration, heart rate, etc) and behavioural (steps, sedentary time, etc) daily variations to give (through also machine learning processes) tailored suggestions for a proper exercise and correct personalized nutrition
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
- Finalized the approval of local ethical committee
- Started the recruitment of subjects for the randomized parallel study (30 subjects recruited at March 2024, 40 planned) on different kind of training. The final results of this first part of the project will allow to define the effectiveness of the use of an app compared to traditional training in older adults for different outcomes
- Starting (February 2024) the recruitment process of subjects involved in the nutrition part of the project (time restricted eating)
- Oral presentation for Age-IT conference (scheduled in Venice, May 20-22)
- Conducting a series of focus groups with older adults to identify usability and preferences for training and nutrition app (December 2023-March 2024)
- Designed the conceptual workflow for nutrition and training apps (December 2023-February 2024)
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
- 1 Manuscript accepted “Impact of daily fasting duration on body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors during a time-restricted eating protocol: a randomized controlled trial”
- Completing a systematic review to analyze the use of physical training app and nutrition app or the combined use in the elderly (completion planned for June 2024)
- Finalized a review on exercise and neural network (in general population) February 2024, to be submitted
- finished the recruitment of subjects for the randomized parallel study (40 subjects) on different kind of training. The final results of this first part of the project will allow to define the effectiveness of the use of an app compared to traditional training in older adults for different outcomes. The study is ongoing
- started the recruitment process of subjects involved in the nutrition part of the project (time restricted eating). Twelve subjects started the experiment
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
- Manuscript to be submitted regarding the relationship between identification of motor units with high-density EMG and body composition parameters
- Completing a systematic review on the combined use of physical training and nutrition monitoring apps in elderly population.
- The review on exercise and neural networks in general population is under review
- Analyzed preliminary results from a randomized parallel study on different types of training in older adults. This analysis will help us determine whether specific participants' characteristics (e.g., body composition, strength, or aerobic capacity) can indicate which type of exercise is most effective for their unique needs. These insights will support app development. Preliminary data will be presented at ACSM conference in May 2025
- Conducted focus groups to explore elderly individuals' perspectives on using technology for physical exercise and nutrition, as well as their views on adopting an app. Data collection is complete and we are finalizing the analysis with the goal of publishing the findings.
- Continuing recruiting participants for the nutrition component of the project (time-restricted eating). First participants completed the study
- 2 Oral presentations at SISMeS (Società Italiana delle Scienze Motorie e Sportive) national conference that will be held in Chieti 19-21 September 2024
- 2 Oral presentations at ECSS Annual Conference (European College of Sport Sciences) that will be held in Glasgow (UK) 2-5 July 2024