Presenter: Brynne Karlinsey
Authors: Brynne Karlinsey Skidmore, Ron Hager, James LeCheminant
Faculty Advisor: James LeCheminant
Institution: Brigham Young University
Purpose: The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between several dietary components (saturated fat, fruit/vegetable intake, and added sugar) and carotid artery thickness, while controlling for age, body composition and blood pressure, in older adults participating in the Huntsman World Senior Games. Background: Heart disease and stroke are common causes of disability and death whose risk increases with age. The prevalence of both diseases is projected to increase as the population of older adults in the United States increases in coming years; thus, an understanding of the causes and modifiable risk factors contributing to heart disease and stroke is increasingly important. Currently, body composition, physical activity, and diet are among the modifiable risk factors associated with heart disease and stroke. The Senior Games presents a unique opportunity to study risk of stroke in physically active aging adults. Carotid artery ultrasound is a widely used method to examine plaque buildup in the carotid artery as an indicator of risk of ischemic stroke. Methodology: At the recent Senior Games in October 2021, we administered dietary screenings using the Block Fat/Sugar/Fruit/Vegetable Screener as one of several health screenings available to participating athletes. There were 17 additional health screening stations, including stations for carotid artery thickness evaluation, body composition, and blood pressure. Research Plan: We plan to turn the health screenings into an exploratory research project. Our next steps include: 1) request data from the Senior Games to utilize the health screening data on diet, carotid artery ultrasound, body composition, and blood pressure, 2) receive Institutional Review Board approval from Brigham Young University to work with these data 3) conduct statistical analyses to examine the relationship among these variables, 4) present our findings at several venues (including UCUR), and 5) publish our findings in a peer-reviewed journal.