Physiological fitness measures and sensory and motor performance in aging

This study investigated relationships between a multivariate index of physiological fitness and the degree of age-related sensory and motor performance deterioration observed in a group of 70 male subjects (age 63 ± 12 years). Physiological fitness was determined by reducing a battery of resting pulmonary, hemodynamic and biochemical variables to a single score, the Index of Physiological Status (IPS). In addition, where possible, maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O₂max) was predicted from submaximal values using a standard treadmill procedure. Both IPS and V̇O₂ scores were significantly correlated with age (p < .01). High scores on the IPS were associated with faster reaction times, improved hearing at high frequencies, greater phonatory control and improved lens accommodation. In contrast, VO₂ measures were found to be insensitive to changes in sensory and motor performance. While all subjects were able to complete the tests required for the generation of the IPS, 33% of the participants were unable to complete the treadmill protocol required for estimation of V̇O₂max. These data suggest that a simple noninvasive instrument for the evaluation of physiological fitness, which is applicable to almost all elderly subjects, may be more sensitive to age-related sensory and performance changes than more traditional exercise based measures which require the exclusion of less healthy subjects.