Older people needed to help beat frailty

Birmingham residents aged 70 and over are being sought to take part in ground-breaking research into the problem of physical frailty and how it might be prevented as we age.

Aston University is among universities and research institutions across Europe undertaking a major €49m EU-funded project that is recruiting volunteers to an expert health programme investigating muscle loss associated with frailty, falls and disability.

Dr James Brown, of the university's Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing, said: "Frailty is a clinical syndrome in which older adults start to lose a little of their resilience and are more likely to have falls, serious illness or disability which can hugely affect the quality of their lives.

"This project – which is called SPRINTT – is ground-breaking in that it is the first time research of this scale and scope has ever been undertaken across Europe. The aim is to identify ways in which we can improve the health of all older adults and find out if nutritional advice, physical activity and the use of technology can improve how we all age and either reverse or prevent frailty."

He explained that 90 volunteers from Birmingham will be recruited – and unlike many other research projects, where the findings help future generations, everyone participating should experience some level of benefit. Every participant will receive regular health checks and expert advice on calorie intake, protein and healthier lifestyle, while those selected for the physical exercise programme may also benefit from improved muscle strength and general fitness.

"We hope that by the end of the project our volunteers will be much more aware of the nutritional value of what they're eating and the value of exercise and will be slightly more robust and physically fitter," added Dr Brown.

Volunteers must be aged 70 or over and reasonably fit but do not need to be an athlete. Recruits will be tested for their suitability to participate, including ensuring they can stand from a sitting position without using their hands and are able to walk 400 metres in less than 15 minutes.

For more information on the European project check out the website: www.mysprintt.eu

Provided by Aston University