Longitudinal age-related changes in motor activities and spatial orientation in CD-1 mice

Female CD-1 mice were evaluated on three occasions over a nineteen month span in tests of exploration, motor coordination, and spatial orientation in a water maze. Aging decreased motor activity and exploration of specific environmental stimuli found in a hole-board and in a T-maze. Age-related deficits were also found in three motor coordination tasks (inclined grid, coat-hanger, and round bridge) and during retention but not acquisition of the hidden platform version of the water maze task. Performance on some motor coordination tests was linearly correlated with either motor activity or exploration, implying the existence of similar neurobiological pathways responsible for these age-related changes.