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There is a demand for effective training methods that encourage exercise adherence during advancing age, particularly in sedentary populations. This study examined the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQL), aerobic fitness and motivation to exercise in ageing men. Participants consisted of males who were either lifelong sedentary (SED; N  = 25; age 63 ± 5 years) or lifelong exercisers (LEX; N  = 19; aged 61 ± 5 years). V ˙ O 2 max and HRQL were measured at three phases: baseline (Phase A), week seven (Phase B) and week 13 (Phase C). Motivation to exercise was measured at baseline and week 13. V ˙ O 2 max was significantly higher in LEX (39.2 ± 5.6 ml kg min −1 ) compared to SED (27.2 ± 5.2 ml kg min −1 ) and increased in both groups from Phase A to C (SED 4.6 ± 3.2 ml kg min −1 , 95 % CI 3.1 – 6.0; LEX 4.9 ± 3.4 ml kg min −1 , 95 % CI 3.1–6.6) Physical functioning (97 ± 4 LEX; 93 ± 7 SED) and general health (70 ± 11 LEX; 78 ± 11 SED) were significantly higher in LEX but increased only in the SED group from Phase A to C (physical functioning 17 ± 18, 95 % CI 9–26, general health 14 ± 14, 95 % CI 8–21). Exercise motives related to social recognition (2.4 ± 1.2 LEX; 1.5 ± 1.0 SED), affiliation (2.7 ± 1.0 LEX; 1.6 ± 1.2 SED) and competition (3.3 ± 1.3 LEX; 2.2 ± 1.1) were significantly higher in LEX yet weight management motives were significantly higher in SED (2.9 ± 1.1 LEX; 4.3 ± 0.5 SED). The study provides preliminary evidence that low-volume HIIT increases perceptions of HRQL, exercise motives and aerobic capacity in older adults, to varying degrees, in both SED and LEX groups.

Abstract Although testosterone replacement in men with classic hypogonadism due to an identified pathology of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis is uncontroversial, the role of testosterone treatment for men with age-related declines in circulating testosterone is unclear. This is due to the lack of large, long-term testosterone therapy trials assessing definitive clinical endpoints. However, men ≥50 years of age, particularly those who have a body mass index >25 kg/m2 and multiple comorbidities, commonly present with clinical features of androgen deficiency and low serum testosterone concentrations. Clinicians are faced with the question whether to initiate testosterone therapy, a difficult dilemma that entails a benefit-risk analysis with limited evidence from clinical trials. Using a case scenario, we present a practical approach to the clinical assessment and management of such men.

Background To determine the incidence and prevalence patterns of activity of daily living (ADL) impairments in ageing men. Methods 3,983 men were enrolled in the Manitoba Follow-up Study (MFUS) cohort study in 1948. From 1996 onwards, functional status was measured. We classified basic (BADL) and instru­mental (IADL) into mutually exclusive categories as a time dependant factor after the second survey wave as: First survey response; no limitation; incident (first episode of disability); persistent (limitation which was seen on all questionnaires after the incident episode); resilient (noted in previous surveys but not present); and recurrent (noted in present survey, and limitations noted as present and absent in previous surveys). Results There were 1,745 participants in 1996 at a mean age of 76 years. Incident BADL limitations increased substantially with age: from 1% at age 75 to 15% at age 95. Similarly, persistent limitations increased with age: from 0.4% at age 75 to 18% at age 95. However, BADL function was fluid, with many in­dividuals grouped within the resilient and recurrent patterns. Similar age effects and variability were noted in IADLs. Conclusion New and persistent disabilities are highly associated with age. However, there is considerable change in functional status over time.

An intervention study on the FCR (Fasting and Calorie Restriction) dietary regime was carried out to determine its efficacy in improving mood states and depression status among ageing men. A total of 32 healthy males (Mean±SD), aged 59.7±6.3 years, with a BMI of 26.7±2.2 kg/m2 were recruited to the study. Participants were randomized to either the FCR group (and were instructed to follow a calorie restricted dietary regime with intermittent fasting) or to the control group (in which individuals were asked to maintain their current lifestyle), for a 3 month period. Mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States and depression was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory-II and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 at baseline, week 6 and week 12 of the intervention. A total of 31 subjects completed the study (n=16, FCR and n=15, control). Significant decreases in tension, anger, confusion and total mood disturbance and improvements in vigor were observed in participants in the FCR group compared to the control group (p<0.05). No significant changes in mean depression scores were observed. Weight, BMI and percent body fat were reduced by 3.8%, 3.7% and 5.7% respectively in the FCR group. Our findings show that a FCR dietary regime is effective in improving mood states and nutritional status among ageing men.

Summary Subnormal levels of testosterone are associated with significant negative health consequences, with higher risks of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality. The numbers of studies reporting on the benefits of normalisation of testosterone is increasing but longer‐term data on (elderly) men receiving testosterone treatment are almost nonexistent. In this single‐centre, cumulative, prospective, registry study, 115 hypogonadal men (mean age 59.05 years) received injections with testosterone undecanoate in 12‐week intervals for up to 10 years. Waist circumference, body weight and mean BMI dropped progressively with statistical significance versus previous year for 7 years and, respectively, 8 years for weight and body mass index. Similarly, fasting glucose displayed a significant decrease after the first year continuing to decrease thereafter. A decline in HbA1c, from 6.4% to 5.6% (mean <6%), was observed from year 2 on, together with a decrease in the ratio of triglycerides:high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, with an increase in HDL levels. The total cholesterol:HDL ratio and non‐HDL cholesterol declined significantly. A decrease was also observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with a decrease in levels of the inflammation marker C‐reactive protein. No major adverse cardiovascular events were observed throughout the study.

Background Advanced paternal age (APA) is associated with decreased fertility, but the mechanism underlying APA remains unknown. CircRNAs have been reported to be ideal candidate biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in many diseases and are also involved in spermatogenesis. Hence, we aimed to assess the circRNA expression profile of spermatozoa from aging men. Methods and results We recruited 6 subjects, including 3 in the younger group (men age < 40) and 3 in the APA group (men age ≥ 40). RNA sequencing was exploited to identify the expression profiles of circRNAs between the two groups. The expression levels of circRNAs were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes biological pathway analysis and Gene Ontology analysis were performed to evaluate the functions of differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) between the two groups. In total, 18,787 circRNAs were sequenced in the spermatozoa of two groups. Our analysis revealed that there were 1056 downregulated circRNAs and 1228 upregulated circRNAs between the two groups, and KEGG analysis showed they were mainly involved in pathways including the DNA repair signaling pathway, meiotic recombination signaling pathway, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Conclusions In conclusion, our study suggested that circRNAs play a vital role in spermatozoa from aging men and provided a fresh perspective on the specific regulatory mechanism of spermatozoa from aging men.

Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common among ageing men because of associated underlying risk factors which are peculiar to this category of patients. Endothelial dysfunction and replacement of cavernosal smooth muscles by collagen fibres are common in older men, making them prone to ED. It is either vasogenic, neurogenic, hormonal, cavernosal or psychogenic in origin, but vasogenic causes are the commonest. This study was aimed at establishing vasogenic causes among patients being evaluated for ED using Doppler ultrasound as this category of ED is amenable to either medical and/or surgical treatment. Methods The study was conducted from July 2015 to January, 2017 at Federal Medical Centre Abuja. Nineteen consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of erectile dysfunction were evaluated with Doppler ultrasound scan using a high-frequency linear array transducer. The penile scan was done before and after intracavernosal injection of 20 µg of Prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ). B-mode scan of the penis was done prior to intracavernosal injection of PGE 1 , and the spectral waveforms as well as peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the CA were recorded at 5 min interval, from 5 to 50 min post-intracavernosal injection of PGE 1 , using angle of insoation ≤ 60°. Results The age range of the patients was fifty to sixty-six years (mean: 57.4 ± 4.3 years), while the PSV of CA varied between 21.4 and 104.4 cm/s (mean: 46.2 ± 19.2) among the entire patients, between 21.4 and 22.3 cm/s (mean: 21.9 ± 0.7) among patients with arteriogenic ED, and between 25.0 and 74.9 cm/s (mean: 45.0 ± 15.5) among those with venogenic ED. Arteriogenic ED was found in two patients (10.6%), while venogenic ED was observed in seven patients, which constituted 36.8% of the entire research participants. None had Peyronie’s disease, penile fracture, penile tumour or mixed arteriogenic and venogenic ED. Conclusion 47.4% of the patients had vasogenic ED and venogenic ED was more common than arterioegenic ED in the age range considered. This categorization of ED with Doppler study is imperative before initiating therapy as treatment protocol for vasogenic ED is aetiologic specific.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men as diagnosed by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire and the respective levels of sex hormones and biochemical parameters, as well as indices of visceral fat accumulation and activity. Material and Methods: The study comprised 148 male (60–75 years) patients from primary care outpatient clinics in the city of Szczecin (Poland). The men were asked to complete a shortened survey questionnaire with sociodemographic data, as well as a shortened version of the IIEF (five items). Venous blood samples were collected. Total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), total cholesterol (ChT), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and albumin were determined. Lipid accumulation product (LAP) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) were calculated. Results: A correlation was found in the analysis of LAP index values (OR = 1.017; p = 0.050). The analysis of hormone concentrations showed a correlation between the diagnosed trait and the value of TT (OR = 1.216; p = 0.046) and SHBG (OR = 1.020; p = 0.007). Conclusions: VAI and LAP have been shown to be good indicators for assessing erectile dysfunction in men over 60 years of age.

Introduction/Objective: The aim of the study was to show which of the adipose tissue accumulation indicators correlate with testosterone disorders in non-diabetic aging men. Material and methods: 455 non diabetic men, recruited at primary care facilities, aged 50–75 participated in the study. The participants underwent anthropometric measurement and ELISA determination of total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), sex hormone binding protein (SHBG), and the determination of fasting glucose (FPG), high-density lipids cholesterol (HDL-Ch), and triacylglycerols (TAG) in serum. The following indicators were calculated: body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipid accumulation product (LAP), and visceral adiposity index (VAI). Results: Men with testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) differed in each of the assessed obesity indices from those without TDS. All of the studied parameters correlated significantly negatively with TT concentration in blood serum, with VAI being the strongest predictor of TDS. It was shown that the threshold value at which the risk of TDS increased was 28.41 kg/m2 for BMI, 1.58 for VAI, 104 cm for WC, and 37.01 for LAP. Conclusions: Indicators of fat accumulation that take into account biochemical parameters in assessing lipid metabolism are better markers of actual body fat deposition than indicators based solely on anthropometric measurements. Among them, VAI seems the most suitable biomarker of TDS in non-diabetic aging men.

Background To investigate the value of quantitative computed tomography (QCT) measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged and elderly men with abnormal blood glucose. Methods Total 138 men aged above 50 years old with routine physical examination were involved in the study. All participants were evaluated with serological index, BMD by QCT and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Statistical analysis was conducted by χ 2 test and regression model. Results All individuals were divided into normal blood glucose (NBG) group and abnormal blood glucose (ABG) group. Compared with NBG group, BMD detected by QCT was obviously lower in ABG group ( P  < 0.05). More cases with low bone mass or osteoporosis were detected by QCT measurement than DXA (χ 2  = 56.618, P  = 0.000), which were consistent in both NBG and ABG groups (χ 2 was 33.564 and 23.250, P  = 0.000). No significant difference of detection rates was found in both subgroups neither by QCT nor DXA measurement (χ 2  = 4.204, P  = 0.122). Regression analysis revealed that ABG was negatively associated with BMD assessed by QCT (β = -0.217, P  < 0.05), which did not show statistical difference after adjusting for age. Conclusion In middle-aged and elderly male patients with NBG or ABG, QCT manifests higher detection rates of low bone mass and osteoporosis than DXA. ABG is negatively correlated with BMD measured by QCT, which is affected by age.