Aging and physiological contributors to physical functional capacity in adult Hispanic females

Physical functional capacity declines with advancing age even in healthy adult humans. Understanding the physiological factors that contribute to the age-related loss of functional capacity among adults is of critical importance if we are to attempt effective interventions. Evidence suggests that age-related reductions in physical functional capacity and increases in functional disability are greater in Hispanic compared with Caucasian women. Age-related changes in body composition, maximal aerobic capacity, and muscle strength could play an important role. Whether these physiological contributors to physical functional capacity differ across age in Hispanic women is unknown. Accordingly, we sought to answer three specific experimental questions: (1) is Hispanic ethnicity per se associated with increased adiposity across the adult age range in healthy women? (2) is the rate of age-related decline in maximal aerobic capacity greater in Hispanic compared with Caucasian women? and (3) is the age-related decline in muscle strength associated with measures of functional performance greater in Hispanic compared with Caucasian women? From these studies we concluded that: (1) Hispanic ethnicity may be associated with modestly elevated levels of adiposity and lower levels of fat-free mass; (2) the age-related decline in maximal aerobic capacity is not greater in Hispanic women; and (3) Hispanic ethnicity is not associated with greater age-related declines in strength associated with physical performance tasks. These results suggest that other factors associated with Hispanic ethnicity (e.g. lower socioeconomic status) contribute to the reduced functional capacity and increased disability that have been reported in older Hispanic compared with Caucasian women.