Exercise and Kidney Function in Care of Older Adults
Indigenous spirituality and cultural knowledges provide strength and resilience to Aboriginal people with chronic kidney disease
Exercise and Kidney Function in Care of Older Adults
Main Message:
This study looks at how regular physical activity especially high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may help slow down kidney function decline in older adults.
Key Points:
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is common in older people and is linked to a higher risk of death, heart problems, and physical decline.
- A large study called Generation 100 looked at how different forms of exercise (HIIT, moderate-intensity, or none) affect kidney function over a period of 5 years.
- The results showed that:
- People doing HIIT had a lower risk of rapid kidney decline.
- A dose-response effect was observed, indicating that greater exercise intensity was associated with improved kidney function outcomes.
- However, some results were surprising and inconsistent.
- High intensity interval training may help through various biological mechanisms such as reducing inflammation, improving heart and blood vessel health, and preserving kidney structure.
The exercise was found to be safe, with no serious side effects during supervised sessions, even in older people.
Challenges & Considerations:
- Participants in the study were already healthier and more active than the average older adult, so the results of this study may not apply to everyone.
- HIIT had the highest dropout rate, and people with lower fitness or health were more likely to drop out.
Conclusion:
Exercise, particularly structured and high-intensity forms, may serve as a powerful and low-cost strategy to preserve kidney function in aging populations. However, to have a meaningful impact, it must be realistic, adaptable, and widely accessible.
