Relationship Between Physical Activity and Stem Cells in Older Adults
Condition: Aging
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This is a pilot study to develop a collaborative, translational research project
      investigating whether physical activity may in part exert a positive influence on aging via
      the mobilization of stem cells. Preliminary data will be collected to explore the
      relationship between physical activity and stem cell populations found in the blood. The
      study hypothesis is that stem cell decrease with age, but that persons who are more
      physically active will have a higher number of stem cells in the blood. The first assessment
      will include an evaluation of health, physical activity and lifestyle via questionnaires.
      Height, weight and abdominal girth will be measured, and blood will be drawn for immune and
      stem cell assessment. Participants will be given a pedometer and accelerometer to wear daily
      for 7 days. Participants will return for a second visit at which the pedometer and
      accelerometer will be returned and blood will be drawn. Stem cell and immune assays will be
      repeated to evaluate the variability of these measures over time. The correlation between
      stem cell numbers and physical activity will be analyzed.
    

Detailed description: 
      Increased numbers of circulating stem cells and physical activity are both associated with
      improved health in older persons. This pilot study is the initial step in developing a
      collaborative, translational research project investigating whether physical activity may in
      part exert a positive influence on aging via the mobilization of stem cells. The specific aim
      of this pilot project is to collect preliminary data to explore the relationship between
      physical activity and stem cell populations found in the blood and to determine the variance
      in the number of circulating stem cells. We hypothesize that stem cell decrease with age, but
      that persons who are more physically active will have a higher number of stem cells in the
      blood. A maximum of 40 persons will be recruited to participate. Persons are eligible to
      participate if they are age 60 or older, haven't been hospitalized recently, do not have an
      immunologic or blood disease, do not have an infection, and are not undergoing chemotherapy.
      Subjects will have 2 visits to the UNMC Clinical Research Center (CRC). The first assessment
      will include an evaluation of health, physical activity and lifestyle via questionnaires.
      Height, weight and abdominal girth will be measured, and blood will be drawn for immune and
      stem cell assessment. Subjects will be given a pedometer and accelerometer to wear daily for
      7 days. Subjects will return to the CRC for a second visit at which the pedometer and
      accelerometer will be returned and blood will be drawn. Stem cell and immune assays will be
      repeated to evaluate the variability of these measures over time. The correlation between
      stem cell numbers and physical activity will be analyzed. The data will be used to perform
      sample size calculations for the development of future studies.
    

Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Community Sample of Omaha, NE metro area
      
Biospecimen description: 
      Plasma will be retained for cytokine analysis.
    
Keywords: physical activity; stem cells; lifestyle