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Critical decline in fine motor hand movements in human aging.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Smith, CD; Umberger, GH; Manning, EL; Slevin, JT; Wekstein, DR; Schmitt, FA; Markesbery, WR; Zhang, Z; Gerhardt, GA; Kryscio, RJ; Gash, DM
Published in: Neurology
October 22, 1999

BACKGROUND: Slowing of motor movements in human aging is a well-known occurrence, but its biologic basis is poorly understood. Reliable quantitation may refine observations of this phenomenon to better aid research on this entity. METHODS: A panel equipped with timing sensors under computer control was used to measure upper extremity movement times in two groups of healthy individuals: adults younger than 60 years of age (n = 56; range, 18-58 years) and adults older than 60 years of age (n = 38; range, 61-94 years). RESULTS: Fine motor performance was better in the dominant hand (p = 0.0007) regardless of age. Adult and aged groups differed on two basic timing measures, which reflect coarse motor and fine motor performance (p < 0.0001). There were no gender differences on either measure. There was a strong effect of task difficulty with age on coarse motor (p < 0.01) and fine motor (p < 0.0001) measures. The fine motor measure of hand performance in healthy individuals correlated in a nonlinear fashion with age for more difficult tasks (r2 = 0.63) but showed a simple linear relation for less-demanding tasks (r2 = 0.5). CONCLUSION: This technique sensitively detects age-related motor performance decline in humans. There may be a critical period in late midlife when fine motor performance decline either begins or abruptly worsens.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurology

DOI

ISSN

0028-3878

Publication Date

October 22, 1999

Volume

53

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1458 / 1461

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Regression Analysis
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Movement
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hand
  • Functional Laterality
  • Female
  • Aging
 

Citation

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Smith, C. D., Umberger, G. H., Manning, E. L., Slevin, J. T., Wekstein, D. R., Schmitt, F. A., … Gash, D. M. (1999). Critical decline in fine motor hand movements in human aging. Neurology, 53(7), 1458–1461. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.53.7.1458
Smith, C. D., G. H. Umberger, E. L. Manning, J. T. Slevin, D. R. Wekstein, F. A. Schmitt, W. R. Markesbery, et al. “Critical decline in fine motor hand movements in human aging.Neurology 53, no. 7 (October 22, 1999): 1458–61. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.53.7.1458.
Smith CD, Umberger GH, Manning EL, Slevin JT, Wekstein DR, Schmitt FA, et al. Critical decline in fine motor hand movements in human aging. Neurology. 1999 Oct 22;53(7):1458–61.
Smith, C. D., et al. “Critical decline in fine motor hand movements in human aging.Neurology, vol. 53, no. 7, Oct. 1999, pp. 1458–61. Pubmed, doi:10.1212/wnl.53.7.1458.
Smith CD, Umberger GH, Manning EL, Slevin JT, Wekstein DR, Schmitt FA, Markesbery WR, Zhang Z, Gerhardt GA, Kryscio RJ, Gash DM. Critical decline in fine motor hand movements in human aging. Neurology. 1999 Oct 22;53(7):1458–1461.

Published In

Neurology

DOI

ISSN

0028-3878

Publication Date

October 22, 1999

Volume

53

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1458 / 1461

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Regression Analysis
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Movement
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hand
  • Functional Laterality
  • Female
  • Aging