Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, USA.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1858 West Grandview Boulevard, Erie, PA, 16509-1025, USA.
J Physiol Anthropol. 2022 Jul 1;41(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s40101-022-00300-5.
Frailty, particularly traits which are related to sex steroid hormone production, results from the age-associated decline in function considered to be part of the typical aging process. This process may vary with influences including environmental, biological, or lifestyle factors. An area of concern that has received relatively little attention is the impact of cumulative lifetime changes in sex steroid hormones related to the traits we see that typify the human aging process. Women's lifetime reproductive profiles include menstrual/ovulatory cycles, gestation, and lactation, all of which respond to changes in sex steroid hormone levels. Here, we review data on reproductive profiles and risks of frailty among post-menopausal women. In the current study, our team collected reproductive histories of women to determine the estimated number of lifetime reproductive cycles (ELC). We interviewed 44 women in the USA and 67 women in the Philippines aged 65 years plus to obtain data on reproductive cycles, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Participants completed several frailty tasks including grip strength, a sit-to-stand test, and gait speed. While ELC was not associated with frailty in the US population, higher ELC was associated with lower frailty among the Philippine population. The current study should be considered as an exploratory project investigating field-friendly methods to use when considering lifetime reproductive histories and the influence on the aging process.
虚弱，特别是与性激素产生相关的特征，是由与年龄相关的功能下降引起的，被认为是典型衰老过程的一部分。这个过程可能因环境、生物或生活方式等因素的影响而有所不同。一个相对较少受到关注的领域是与人类衰老过程特征相关的性激素的终生变化对虚弱的影响。女性的终生生殖特征包括月经/排卵周期、妊娠和哺乳，所有这些都对性激素水平的变化做出反应。在这里，我们回顾了与绝经后妇女虚弱相关的生殖特征和风险的数据。在目前的研究中，我们的团队收集了女性的生殖史，以确定估计的终生生殖周期数（ELC）。我们采访了 44 名美国和 67 名菲律宾的 65 岁以上的女性，以获取关于生殖周期、怀孕和哺乳的数据。参与者完成了几项虚弱测试，包括握力、从坐姿到站姿的测试和步态速度。虽然 ELC 与美国人群的虚弱无关，但在菲律宾人群中，较高的 ELC 与较低的虚弱有关。本研究应被视为一个探索性项目，旨在调查在考虑终生生殖史及其对衰老过程的影响时使用的方便田野的方法。
