As individuals age, their natural movements tend to slow down, which researchers attribute to factors such as a slower metabolism, loss of muscle mass, and decreased activity levels over time. Recent studies from the University of Colorado Boulder suggest that older adults may move slower because it requires more energy for them compared to younger adults. This discovery, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, holds promise for developing diagnostic tools for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
To delve into this phenomenon, researchers conducted a study involving 84 participants spanning different age groups. They observed that older adults adjusted their movements to conserve energy, indicating a shift in movement efficiency with age. Alaa A. Ahmed, PhD, explained that aging muscles may become less efficient, leading to compensatory strategies that require more energy for tasks that younger adults perform more effortlessly.
Additionally, the study explored how aging affects the brain’s reward circuitry, crucial for producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with motivation and pleasure. Despite age-related changes, both young and older adults responded to rewards similarly, but older adults were more sensitive to the effort required for movement. This insight could inform interventions for movement-related disorders and enhance our understanding of neurological health.
Alaa A. Ahmed, PhD, emphasized the potential impact on quality of life due to age-related movement slowing and its relevance to various neurological disorders. The study’s implications extend to the importance of exercise in aging populations and the need for further research to elucidate the relationship between aging, movement, and brain function.
Experts like Clifford Segil, DO, underscored the importance of exercise for elderly patients and suggested incorporating neurophysiological measures to validate findings. Ryan Glatt, CPT, NBC-HWC, highlighted the need for caution in interpreting behavioral data and emphasized the importance of corroborating findings with neurological evidence. He also stressed the necessity of broader methodological approaches and larger sample sizes for robust and generalizable results.
