Perceived and Performance Fatigability: Novel Findings on Correlates, Consequences, and Candidate Genes

Chair(s)

• NG

  Nancy Glynn, PhD, FGSA

  Associate Professor of Epidemiology
  Epidemiology
  School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Co-Chair(s)

• 

  Jennifer Schrack, PhD, FGSA

  Associate Professor
  Epidemiology
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States

  Slides

Discussant(s)

• 

  Eleanor Simonsick, PhD

  Epidemiologist, Co-Director BLSA
  Longitudinal Studies Section (LSS)
  National Institute on Aging
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States

  Slides

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Yujia (Susanna) Qiao, ScM (she/her/hers)

  Doctoral candidate
  Epidemiology
  University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
• RM

  Reagan Moffit, MPH

  PhD Student
  Epidemiology
  University of Pittsburgh
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
• 

  Kyle Moored, PhD (he/him/his)

  Assistant Scientist
  Epidemiology
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• EG

  Emma Gay, BS

  MPH student
  Department of Epidemiology
  University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
• 

  Amal Wanigatunga, PhD, MPH

  Assistant Professor
  Epidemiology
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Characterizing fatigability enables quantification of an individual’s susceptibility to fatigue in the context of standardized physical task(s). This approach eliminates self-pacing, and is a less-biased, more sensitive approach to assess the presence and severity of fatigue, a critical prodromal symptom of chronic and acute health conditions. Collectively, we have established the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS) and Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion at the end of a standardized 5-minute treadmill walk (RPE Fatigability) as prognostic indicators of aging-related outcomes. Recently, we extended our methodological work in developing a novel accelerometry-based performance fatigability measure of slowing down during in-lab walking (Pittsburgh Performance Fatigability Index, PPFI). This symposium presents findings from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (SOMMA), Long Life Family Study (LLFS), and Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Specifically, using SOMMA, Ms. Qiao will share development and validation of the PPFI using a usual-paced 400m walk, Ms. Moffit will report the association of fitness (i.e., VO2peak) with PFS physical and mental fatigability, and extending the SOMMA findings, Dr. Moored will detail the dual roles of fitness and fatigability on life-space mobility. Using LLFS data, Ms. Gay will report associations of variants (SNPs) in 272 candidate autosomal genes involved in energy metabolism (previously associated with mitochondrial dysfunction disease) with PFS physical fatigability. Lastly, using BLSA data, Dr. Wanigatunga will compare the discriminatory power of RPE Fatigability versus general fatigue symptoms for predicting mortality. Our Discussant, Dr. Simonsick, will provide critical review in the context of new directions for fatigability research.

Presentations:

• 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET

  Validation of the Pittsburgh Performance Fatigability Index from Usual-Paced 400 m Walk
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Yujia (Susanna) Qiao, ScM (she/her/hers) – University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health
• 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET

  Association Between Aerobic Capacity and Perceived Fatigability: The Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (SOMMA)
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Reagan Moffit, MPH – University of Pittsburgh
• 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET

  Dual Roles of Fitness and Fatigability in the Life-Space Mobility of Older Adults
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kyle D. Moored, PhD (he/him/his) – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET

  Energy Metabolism Related Candidate Gene Association Study of Perceived Physical Fatigability
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Emma Gay, BS – University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
• 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET

  Perceived Fatigability and Mortality in Mid-to-Late Life in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Amal A. Wanigatunga, PhD, MPH – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health