Blood cadmium and physical function limitations in older adults

Highlights: • Functional decline in older adults is a major challenge to health care systems. • Most of the few previous reports on Cd and functional decline are cross-sectional. • We prospectively studied this association in older adults with low cadmium exposure. • B–Cd levels were related to higher risk of limitations in several functional domains. • Further efforts should be made to protect the elderly against Cd exposure. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal found in tobacco, air and food. Recent cross-sectional studies have suggested that Cd negatively impacts physical performance, but the prospective association is uncertain.