Dr. James Andrews is an Acting Assistant Professor in the University of Washington Department of Medicine Division of Rheumatology and one of two recipients of the inaugural CLEAR Center Pilot & Feasibility Awards.
Dr. James Andrews is a recipient of one of two initial CLEAR Center Pilot & Feasibility Awards
Dr. Andrews’ Pilot & Feasibility Award project is entitled Identifying Aging-related Sarcopenia as a Novel Risk Factor for the Development of Osteoarthritis in Older Adults – a Population-Based Approach and will leverage the NIH/NIA-funded Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) dataset to identify novel risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis among older adults, such as sarcopenia (low lean mass and grip strength) and serum biomarkers. Dr. Andrews and his team will explore the relationship between sarcopenia and osteoarthritis, as well as examine the potential for sarcopenia to predict development of osteoarthritis in the future. Understanding the relationship between sarcopenia and development of osteoarthritis in older adults will pave the way for identification of patients at greatest risk for osteoarthritis and provide novel data on how osteoarthritis is developed that will ultimately promote interventional studies designed to prevent osteoarthritis and reduce disability for millions of at risk older Americans.
Of his work, Dr. Andrews says, “results from my CLEAR Pilot & Feasibility study will help me close key knowledge gaps on sarcopenia and development of osteoarthritis. I’m grateful for the opportunity to lay the groundwork for additional research funding in the future, as I work towards my ultimate goal of reducing disability for millions of older Americans.”
Dr. Andrews will work toward the following specific aims:
- Specific Aim 1: To determine the ability of low lean mass and grip strength to predict incident osteoarthritis among older adults.
- Hypothesis 1: Both low appendicular lean mass-to-BMI ratio (ALMBMI) (<0.789 men, <0.512 women) measured
by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and low grip strength (<26 kg mean, <16kg women) measured by handheld dynamometer will be associated with development of incident hip or knee osteoarthritis.
- Hypothesis 1: Both low appendicular lean mass-to-BMI ratio (ALMBMI) (<0.789 men, <0.512 women) measured
- Specific Aim 2: To determine the ability of cytokine mediators of sarcopenia to predict incident osteoarthritis among older adults.
- Hypothesis 2: Higher serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1b, and lower
levels of adiponectin, will be associated with development of incident hip or knee osteoarthritis.
- Hypothesis 2: Higher serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1b, and lower