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Gender differences in upper extremity motor performance of older persons
Aron S Buchman1, Robert S Wilson, Julia L Bienias
1Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center,Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center,Department of Psychology, Rush University Medical Center andRush Institute for Healthy Aging, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Gender differences in motor performance persist in older adults, with strength disparities decreasing in the oldest age groups. Speed and muscle bulk differences remained stable with aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Motor performance naturally declines with advancing age.
- While gender disparities in motor function are known, their persistence in old age requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how gender differences in upper extremity motor performance change across older age groups.
- To assess the influence of age on gender-based variations in motor strength, speed, and muscle bulk.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 234 men and 530 women (aged 65+) from the Religious Orders Study.
- Assessed upper extremity motor performance, including grip/pinch strength, finger tapping speed, Purdue Pegboard task, and arm muscle bulk.
- Controlled for clinical diagnoses of Parkinson's disease, stroke, and hormone replacement therapy in women.
Main Results:
- Men consistently exhibited greater strength than women, though this gap narrowed in older individuals.
- Women outperformed men on the Purdue Pegboard, while men showed faster finger tapping rates.
- Gender differences in motor speed and muscle bulk remained consistent across all age ranges.
Conclusions:
- Upper extremity motor speed and muscle bulk show stable gender differences with aging.
- Gender disparities in motor strength diminish in the oldest old.
- Longitudinal research is recommended to understand age-related strength decline rates in men versus women.
