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Aging and quantitative sensory thresholds.
1Department of Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153.
Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Aging impairs vibration sensitivity, particularly in the toes. This study found that older adults have significantly higher vibration detection thresholds in their fingers and toes compared to younger individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Sensory Physiology
Background:
- Normal aging affects sensory perception.
- Vibration and thermal sensitivity are key tactile senses.
- Age-related changes in peripheral nerves are common.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify age-related changes in cutaneous vibration and thermal sensitivity.
- To investigate the relationship between age and sensory thresholds at the extremities.
- To confirm clinical observations of decreased vibration sense with aging.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cutaneous vibration and thermal sensitivity thresholds.
- Quantitated thresholds at the index finger and great toe.
- Included 54 healthy subjects and 12 older adults with normal nerve conduction studies.
Main Results:
- Vibration thresholds significantly increased with age, especially in the great toe (p < 0.001).
- A significant increase in vibration thresholds was also observed in the index finger (p < 0.05).
- No significant age-related changes were found in thermal sensitivity thresholds.
Conclusions:
- Normal aging is associated with a decline in vibration discrimination, particularly in the toes.
- Age-related sensory changes primarily affect vibration sensitivity, not thermal sensitivity.
- Findings support the clinical understanding of reduced vibratory sense in older adults.