Relationship between klotho and physical function in healthy aging

Epidemiological studies have reported a strong association between circulating Klotho and physical function; however, the cohorts were comprised of older adults with multiple comorbidities. Herein, we examined the relationship between Klotho and physical function in a community-based cohort of healthy adults. In this cross-sectional study, serum Klotho was measured in 80 adults who visited the Musculoskeletal Function, Imaging, and Tissue Resource Core of the Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health. Participants (n = 20, 10 [50%] men per group) were chosen into four age groups: 20–34, 35–49, 50–64, and ≥ 65 years, and were further grouped based on performance (low vs. high) on grip strength and chair stand tests. Klotho levels were lower in the ≥ 65 years group (703.0 [189.3] pg/mL; p = 0.022) and the 50–64 years group (722.6 [190.5] pg/mL; p = 0.045) compared to 20–34 years (916.1 [284.8] pg/mL). No differences were observed in Klotho between the low and high performers. The ≥ 65 years group walked a shorter distance during the 6-min walk test (6MWT) compared to 20–34 years (p = 0.005). Klotho was correlated with age (p < 0.001), body fat (p = 0.037), and 6MWT distance (p = 0.022). Klotho levels decline as early as the fifth decade of life, potentially before the onset of age-related impairment in exercise capacity.