1
|
Wunderle V, Kuzu TD, Tscherpel C, Fink GR, Grefkes C, Weiss PH. Age- and sex-related changes in motor functions: a comprehensive assessment and component analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1368052. [PMID: 38813530 PMCID: PMC11133706 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1368052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related motor impairments often cause caregiver dependency or even hospitalization. However, comprehensive investigations of the different motor abilities and the changes thereof across the adult lifespan remain sparse. We, therefore, extensively assessed essential basic and complex motor functions in 444 healthy adults covering a wide age range (range 21 to 88 years). Basic motor functions, here defined as simple isolated single or repetitive movements in one direction, were assessed by means of maximum grip strength (GS) and maximum finger-tapping frequency (FTF). Complex motor functions, comprising composite sequential movements involving both proximal and distal joints/muscle groups, were evaluated with the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTT), and the Purdue Pegboard Test. Men achieved higher scores than women concerning GS and FTF, whereas women stacked more pins per time than men during the Purdue Pegboard Test. There was no significant sex effect regarding JTT. We observed a significant but task-specific reduction of basic and complex motor performance scores across the adult lifespan. Linear regression analyses significantly predicted the participants' ages based on motor performance scores (R2 = 0.502). Of note, the ratio between the left- and right-hand performance remained stable across ages for all tests. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed three motor components across all tests that represented dexterity, force, and speed. These components were consistently present in young (21-40 years), middle-aged (41-60 years), and older (61-88 years) adults, as well as in women and men. Based on the three motor components, K-means clustering analysis differentiated high- and low-performing participants across the adult life span. The rich motor data set of 444 healthy participants revealed age- and sex-dependent changes in essential basic and complex motor functions. Notably, the comprehensive assessment allowed for generating robust motor components across the adult lifespan. Our data may serve as a reference for future studies of healthy subjects and patients with motor deficits. Moreover, these findings emphasize the importance of comprehensively assessing different motor functions, including dexterity, force, and speed, to characterize human motor abilities and their age-related decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Wunderle
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Taylan D. Kuzu
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Caroline Tscherpel
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Gereon R. Fink
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christian Grefkes
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Peter H. Weiss
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Arnold T, Johnston CS. An examination of relationships between vitamin B12 status and functional measures of peripheral neuropathy in young adult vegetarians. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1304134. [PMID: 38174111 PMCID: PMC10764020 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1304134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Prevalence rates for vitamin B12 deficiency in U.S. adult vegetarians may exceed 30%, which is concerning given the role for this vitamin in numerous nervous system functions, including the synthesis of myelin sheaths. Defective myelin synthesis and repair are directly linked to peripheral neuropathy; yet, few investigations have examined how physical indicators of peripheral neuropathy (e.g., hand dexterity, vibration sensitivity and balance) are impacted in individuals adhering to vegetarian diets. This feasibility research explored the relationships between peripheral neuropathy and vitamin B12 status using a cross-sectional study design. In addition, a small pilot trial was conducted for limited-efficacy testing of vitamin B12 supplementation for reducing peripheral neuropathy. Methods Healthy, able-bodied adults (n = 38; 19-40 years of age) reported exclusive adherence to a vegetarian or vegan diet for 3 years. Peripheral neuropathy was measured using a force plate for assessing balance, and a vibration sensitivity tester and pegboard tests to assess hand dexterity. Serum vitamin B12 and folate were measured using standard radioimmunoassay techniques. Results Twenty-six percent of the sample displayed deficient or marginal vitamin B12 status (serum vitamin B12 <221 pmol/L). Participants with adequate vitamin B12 status scored 10% higher on the Purdue pegboard assembly test and 20% higher on the left hand adjusted functional dexterity test in comparison to participants with marginal-to-deficient vitamin B12 status (p < 0.05). Discussion These data provide preliminary evidence that peripheral neuropathy can be detected in individuals with marginal-to-deficient vitamin B12 status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol S. Johnston
- Nutrition Program, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| |
Collapse
|