Cláudia Vaz

Muscle strength is a key factor influencing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults, yet its relationship with body fat remains understudied. This cross-sectional study examined associations between muscle strength, adiposity, and HRQoL in 253 community-dwelling participants aged 65 years or older from the GMOVE project. Assessments included sociodemographic characteristics, handgrip strength, body composition, and HRQoL measured with the SF-36v2 questionnaire. Linear regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status, were used to explore the associations. Results showed that higher muscle strength was significantly associated with better HRQoL, independent of body fat levels. Participants with greater strength consistently reported higher HRQoL scores than those with lower strength, regardless of adiposity. These findings highlight the potential importance of maintaining or improving muscle strength to support well-being in older adults. The results suggest that interventions targeting muscle strength may mitigate some negative effects of excess adiposity on HRQoL. Future research should incorporate comprehensive body composition measures, larger samples, and longitudinal designs to clarify causal pathways and inform evidence-based strategies for healthy aging.

The main challenge addressed by this project is population ageing, a pressing issue for public policies in both Spain and Portugal. This phenomenon is particularly prominent in the regions involved in the project (EuroACE: Extremadura, Central Portugal, and Alentejo), which share common characteristics: low population density and a high rate of ageing. Thus, the project tackles shared territorial challenges in the Spain–Portugal cross-border area. Objectives: The primary objective of the project is to improve the quality of life of older adults by promoting autonomy using innovative technologies and cross-border cooperation. Methods: The promotion of physical activity, cognitive and socio-emotional stimulation, as well as the use of Information and Communication Technologies—such as robotics, serious games, and brain-computer interfaces—will be the main tools developed throughout the project. Through the development and implementation of these solutions and the application of technical knowledge, the cross-border cooperation is expected to contribute to addressing the demographic challenge of an ageing population. Results: The project is expected to have a positive impact on the EuroACE region, involving around 200 professionals in the implementation of the developed solutions with over 1,000 older adults. Through the project’s beneficiary partners, the results are also expected to impact over 50 institutions and companies in the business ecosystem. Conclusion: The EuroAGE+ Network will be essential in fostering research and innovation in the field of health and healthy ageing, improving quality of life and extending the healthy life expectancy of the population.

Older people in low-population density regions tend to have fewer resources to engage in regular physical activity (PA) compared to their counterparts in urban areas. Moreover, PA assumes different dimensions, and the amount of PA related to each dimension may differ between women and men, predisposing them to different PA practices. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aims to describe the prevalence of barriers to PA, gender differences, and their associations with different PA dimensions. A total of 259 older adults (153 women and 106 men; age, 75.17 ± 8.05 years old) living in the community in the region of Guarda (Portugal) were interviewed face to face to record their sociodemographic characteristics, general health status (comorbidity index and self-reported health), PA behaviour, and barriers to PA. Women were more likely to report “low” income and living alone (p ≤ 0.05), while men reported a higher negative health status than women (p < 0.05). Two intrinsic (“Fear of injury” (40.1%) and “Need for rest” (26.3%)) and two extrinsic barriers (“Lack of nearby facilities” (30.5%) and “I don’t have transport” (25.6%)) were the most prevalent. For women, age, self-reported health, comorbidity index, and intrinsic and extrinsic barriers were similarly associated with the different PA dimensions. However, only self-reported health and extrinsic barriers were the variables associated with the different PA dimensions in men. Therefore, strategies to promote active ageing in low-population density regions should be focused on reducing intrinsic and extrinsic barriers based on gender and the PA dimension to be achieved.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is influenced by several factors, such as living place, physical activity (PA), and functional fitness levels. Evidence shows that functional fitness and PA levels are strongly associated with positive HRQoL, especially in the older population. However, the impact of the living place has not been investigated as an influencing variable in this context. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the HRQoL, PA, and functional fitness of older adults living in rural and urban areas of Portugal. A cross-sectional study was performed with community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and over (n = 261) living in the city of Guarda. The participants were assessed for sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical health, HRQoL, PA levels, and functional fitness status. The results showed that rural residents presented higher scores of HRQoL and functional fitness than older individuals living in urban areas. Regression models showed that functional fitness variables influence the HRQoL overall score and mental and physical subcomponents of HRQoL, regardless of the living place. In contrast, PA levels only influenced the HRQoL score in rural residents. The findings suggest that intervention programs to improve the physical health, quality of life, and well-being of the older population need to consider the country’s different geographical areas.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar a intensidade de esforço em duas aulas de step [coreografado (SC) e atlético (SA)]. As 8 participantes da amostra (género feminino, 21,3±1,12 anos) foram submetidas a duas sessões de 45 minutos, com o step a 15cm de altura e cadência musical de 132bpms, com um intervalo de 48h entre sessões. A intensidade de esforço foi avaliada através da monitorização da frequência cardíaca (FC). Foi calculada a FC Reserva e determinadas as zonas de intensidade (ACSM, 2011). Foi ainda avaliada a perceção subjetiva de esforço (RPE – escala de Borg). A FC média nas aulas de SC e SA foi de 157±18,3bpm e 158,1±7,1bpm, respetivamente, traduzida numa intensidade média de 69,2±13,5 (SC) e 69,7±6,2 (SA) da FC Reserva, sem diferenças significativas entre as duas vertentes de step (p>0,73). Contudo, na aula de SA as participantes passaram 70±8,8% do tempo em atividade vigorosa enquanto no SC passaram 50±10,3% (p>0,05). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas relativamente ao tempo despendido noutras zonas de treino, entre modalidades. Na aula de SA (16,67 ± 1), a RPE foi significativamente superior à aula de SC (15,44 ± 0,73). Ambas as modalidades permitem praticar exercício físico de intensidade moderada a vigorosa, concordando com as recomendações do ACSM (2011).