Poor oral health could be associated with changes in musculoskeletal health over time. This aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relationship between oral health and decline in physical function in later life. We did a prospective analysis of two cohorts of older adults (aged 70 years or older) including men from the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS; n=612), and men and women from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study (n=1572), followed up for about 8 years. Data were available for clinical or self-reported oral health measures, muscle (grip) strength, and physical performance (chair stand and gait speed). ANCOVA models were used to assess the association between oral health and follow-up physical function scores. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between oral health and decline in physical function over the follow-up period. In the BRHS, changes in oral health and physical function were also assessed. All models were adjusted for relevant sociodemographic, behavioural, and health-related factors. In the BRHS, complete tooth loss and difficulty eating were associated with weaker grip strength at follow-up, and periodontal status was associated with decline in gait speed. In the Health ABC Study, complete tooth loss, poor self-rated oral health, and the presence of one oral health problem were associated with slower gait speed at follow-up. In both studies, dry mouth was associated with declines in physical function. In the BRHS, deterioration of dentition (tooth loss) over the follow-up period was associated with decline in chair stand speed (adjusted odds ratio 2·34 [95% CI 1·20-4·46]), as was deterioration in difficulty eating (2·41 [1·04-5·60]). Oral health problems are associated with poorer physical function and greater decline in physical function in older adults, and could be an indicator of individuals at risk of reduced physical capacity and subsequent frailty and disability in later life. The Dunhill Medical Trust and the US National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

To investigate the prospective associations between oral health and progression of physical frailty in older adults. Prospective analysis. Data are from the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) comprising 2137 men aged 71–92 years from 24 British towns and the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (HABC) Study of 3075 men and women aged 70–79 years. Oral health markers included denture use, tooth count, periodontal disease, self-rated oral health, dry mouth, and perceived difficulty eating. Physical frailty progression after ~8 years follow-up was determined based on two scoring tools: the Fried frailty phenotype (for physical frailty) and the Gill index (for severe frailty). Logistic regression models were conducted to examine the associations between oral health markers and progression to frailty and severe frailty, adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioural, and health-related factors. After full-adjustment, progression to frailty was associated with dentition (per each additional tooth, OR=0.97; 95% CI:0.95, 1.00), <21 teeth with (OR=1.74; 95% CI:1.02, 2.96) or without denture use (OR=2.45; 95% CI:1.15, 5.21) and symptoms of dry mouth (OR≥1.8; 95% CI: ≥1.06, 3.10) in the BRHS cohort. In the HABC Study, progression to frailty was associated with dry mouth (OR= 2.62; 95% CI: 1.05, 6.55), self-reported difficulty eating (OR= 2.12; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.50) and ≥2 cumulative oral health problems (OR= 2.29; 95% CI: 1.17, 4.50). Progression to severe frailty was associated with edentulism (OR= 4.44; 95% CI: 1.39, 14.15) and <21 teeth without denture use (OR= 3.37; 95% CI: 1.17, 9.75) after full adjustment int the HABC Study. These findings indicate that oral health problems, particularly tooth loss and dry mouth, in older adults are associated with progression to frailty in later life. Additional research is needed to determine if interventions aimed at maintaining (or improving) oral health can contribute to reducing the risk, and worsening, of physical frailty in older adults.

Tart Montmorency cherries (MC) are a particularly rich source of anthocyanins and other polyphenols that have been shown to elicit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasomodulatory actions. The current study aimed to determine the influence of chronic MC supplementation on cognitive function and mood. In a 3-month double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel study, middle-aged adults (mean ± sd : 48 ± 6 years) were randomly assigned to either 30 ml twice daily of MC ( n 25) or the same amount of an isoenergetic placebo ( n 25). Cognitive function and mood were assessed before and after supplementation using a computerised cognitive task battery and visual analogue scales. Cerebral blood flow was also monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy during the task battery, and questionnaires were administered to determine subjective sleep and health status and plasma metabolomics were analysed before and after supplementation. After 3 months, the MC resulted in higher accuracy in digit vigilance (mean difference: 3·3, 95 % CI: 0·2, 6·4 %) with lower number of false alarms (mean difference: −1·2, 95 % CI: −2·0, −0·4) compared with the placebo. There was also a treatment effect for higher alertness (mean difference: 5·9, 95 % CI: 1·3, 10·5 %) and lower mental fatigue ratings (mean difference −9·5, 95 % CI: −16·5, −2·5 %) with MC. Plasma metabolomics revealed an increase in a number of amino acids in response to MC intake, but not placebo. These data suggest an anti-fatiguing effect of MC supplementation as well as the ability to improve sustained attention during times of high cognitive demand, this could be related to changes in amino acid metabolism.

Athletes are increasingly consuming (poly)phenol supplements to modify oxidative stress and/or exercise-induced inflammation, in the hope that this will enhance exercise performance.

Background: Food high in (poly)phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, have the potential to improve exercise recovery and exercise performance. Haskap berries are rich in anthocyanins, but no research has examined the potential to improve human performance. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of Haskap berry on parameters of endurance running performance. Methods: Using a double-blind, placebo controlled, independent groups design, 30 male recreational runners (mean ± SD age, 33 ± 7 years; stature, 178.2 ± 7.2 cm; mass, 77.7 ± 10.6 kg; $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2peak, 52.2 ± 6.6 mL/kg/min) volunteered to participate. Following familiarisation, volunteers visited the laboratory twice (separated by seven days) to assess submaximal, maximal and 5 km time trial running performance. After the first visit, volunteers were randomly assigned to consume either the Haskap berry intervention or an isocaloric placebo control. Results: There were modest changes in heart rate and $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂ at submaximal intensities (p < 0.05). Time to exhaustion during the $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2peak test was longer in the Haskap group by 20 s (p = 0.031). Additionally, 5 km time trial performance was improved in the Haskap group by ~21 s (p = 0.016), which equated to a 0.25 km/h increase in mean running speed compared to the placebo control; this represented a >2% improvement in running performance. Conclusions: The application of this newly identified functional food to athletes has the capacity to improve endurance running performance.

The British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) cohort is a socially and geographically representative population-based sample comprising men (initially aged 40–59 years) recruited from a single general practice in each of the 24 British towns representing all major British regions in 1978–80. ¹ The initial aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence and determinants of both individual and geographical variation in cardiovascular disease (CVD). At the 30-year follow-up, when the cohort were aged 71–92 years (2010–12), the data collection addressed a wider range of disease, health conditions and determinants relevant to CVD and healthy ageing. Cohort data were linked to area-level deprivation (‘index of multiple deprivation’ for England, Wales and Scotland) and hospital data [Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)]. Other measures added to the study at that time included, but were not limited to, dental health, physical function, physical activity and cells for DNA sequencing, as well as survey data relating to cognition, overall health, and behavioural and psychosocial factors, as previously described. ² Figure 1 illustrates the detailed objective and subjective markers collected from baseline (1975–78) to the 40-year follow-up (in 2018). Physical examinations of the cohort have been conducted at baseline and thereafter at 20 years (1998–2000), 30 years (2010–12) and 40 years since baseline (2018). The cohort has been followed up annually since 2014 by postal questionnaires.