Frailty is a common condition among older adults that increases the risk of adverse health outcomes and mortality. Inflammation has been suggested as a potential underlying mechanism for frailty.
A recent study, led by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, investigated whether the anti-inflammatory medication canakinumab could reduce the risk of frailty in adults with atherosclerosis.
The study involved a post-hoc analysis of data from the Canakinumab Anti-Inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study (CANTOS), which focused on the effects of canakinumab on frailty, self-reported functional ability, and cardiovascular events.
CANTOS was a double-blind trial conducted with nearly 10,000 stable post-myocardial infarction patients who received either canakinumab or a placebo every three months between 2011 and 2017.
Over the course of the five-year trial, 1,080 patients developed frailty. However, the post-hoc analysis did not find any significant impact of canakinumab on frailty incidence or self-reported function.
Additionally, frailty status did not affect the relative efficacy of canakinumab in preventing cardiovascular events.
It’s important to note that this study focused exclusively on patients with atherosclerosis and did not include individuals without cardiovascular diseases.
The researchers suggest that frailty in these participants could develop independently of the pathways influenced by canakinumab.
Dr. Ariela Orkaby, the corresponding author of the study, emphasized that it remains unclear whether inflammation is a causal factor or merely a bystander in the development of frailty.
Further randomized trials involving anti-inflammatory medications are needed to gain a better understanding of their potential role in preventing frailty and functional decline in older adults.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about Heart disease hidden in plain sight: silent blockages multiply heart attack risks and findings of Essential vitamins for heart health: a guide to a healthy heart.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about natural coconut sugar that could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness, and whey and soy protein may reduce inflammation in older people.
The research findings can be found in Aging Cell.
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