Super movers: epidemiology and biology of a novel exceptional aging phenotype

Abstract

Background Although gait speed typically declines with age, some individuals manage to maintain higher walking speeds well into older age. To better understand healthy longevity, we propose a novel exceptional aging phenotype of super movers, individuals 80 years or older with walking speeds comparable to individuals three decades younger. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the epidemiology and determinants of super mover status as well as mortality, biological aging and gait speed trajectories of super movers compared to age peers identified from 15 aging cohort studies across 24 countries. Results In a pooled cohort of data from multi-country population-based surveys, prevalence of super movers ranged from 4.9% to 11.1% in individuals 80 and older, with an average overall prevalence of 7.3%. Compared to age peers, super movers exhibited lower disease prevalence, healthier lifestyles and had lower mortality rates (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.09 - 0.66). In two smaller samples with gait and biological aging data and longitudinal gait assessments, compared age-matched peers, super movers had younger biological age and showed faster gait speed from their seventh to tenth decades, respectively. Conclusion Super movers are an exceptional aging phenotype enriched with unique biological and clinical profiles that can provide valuable insights into healthy longevity.