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Extrapyramidal signs in cognitively intact elderly people
1Department of Psychiatry for the Elderly, University of Leicester, The Bennion Centre, Glenfield General Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9DZ, UK.
Age and Ageing
|April 5, 2003
Summary
Subtle extrapyramidal signs are common in older adults, particularly those over 80. These neurological changes appear to be age-related rather than caused by diagnosed diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Extrapyramidal signs (EPS) are motor symptoms often associated with neurological disorders.
- Investigating EPS prevalence in the elderly is crucial for understanding age-related neurological changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of extrapyramidal signs in non-demented elderly individuals.
- To explore the relationship between these signs and diagnosed diseases in the aging population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 151 non-demented subjects aged 65+ from Nottingham was assessed.
- Standardized neurological examinations using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale were employed to rate EPS.
Main Results:
- Bradykinetic and hypokinetic abnormalities were frequently observed, especially in individuals aged 80 and above (over 50%).
- Less than 10% of subjects had a recorded neurological disease, indicating a low disease attribution rate.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of subtle extrapyramidal abnormalities in the elderly exceeds what can be explained by diagnosed neurological diseases.
- Findings suggest these signs may represent intrinsic, age-related neurological changes, consistent with known pathological alterations in the substantia nigra and striatum during normal aging.