Glucose metabolism in healthy ageing

Abstract

This thesis aims to describe the role of glucose metabolism in human longevity and to translate the results to an intervention aimed at improving health in older age in the general population. In the first part, we describe evidence for enhanced glucose metabolism in long-lived families. Middle-aged individuals predisposed to longevity were characterized by enhande insulin action at the level of the skeletal muscle, lower accumulation of intramyocellular lipids and lower nocturnal glucose levels. These results have provided the biological basis upon which health-promoting intervention in older age may be funded. In the second part, we have shonw that an internet-based intervention is effective at increasing physical activity and improving health in an older population. Furthermore, increasing total daily physical activity in sedentary elderly was shown to lead to better metabolic health.