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Cortical control of upright stance in elderly
Recep A Ozdemir1, Jose L Contreras-Vidal2, William H Paloski3
1Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|December 27, 2017
Summary
Elderly individuals exhibit distinct cortical activity patterns, specifically increased gamma band oscillations, during challenging balance tasks compared to younger adults. This suggests age-related differences in sensory processing for posture control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Motor Control
- Gerontology
Background:
- Postural control relies on complex sensory integration and central nervous system processing.
- Aging is associated with changes in sensory perception and motor control, potentially affecting balance.
- Cortical activity plays a crucial role in adapting posture to varying sensory inputs and perturbations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in cortical involvement during quiet stance with altered sensory stimulation.
- To examine cortical activity patterns in response to biomechanical perturbations in young versus elderly individuals.
- To identify the neural mechanisms underlying age-related impairments in balance control.
Main Methods:
- Experiment-1: Monitored cortical activity (delta and gamma oscillations) during altered sensory conditions (eyes open/closed, fixed/sway-referenced surface).
- Experiment-2: Analyzed cortical oscillations and muscle firing characteristics following postural perturbations.
- Used perturbation evoked potential (PEP) analysis to assess sensory processing and motor response delays.
Main Results:
- Increased cortical activations in delta and gamma oscillations were observed under challenging postural conditions in both groups.
- Elderly individuals showed significantly higher gamma band activity over sensorimotor and parietal cortices compared to younger adults.
- Cortical oscillatory rhythms were coherent with muscle firing, indicating increased corticospinal drive post-perturbation; elderly showed prolonged muscle response delays.
Conclusions:
- This study reveals age-specific differences in cortical activation patterns during balance tasks, particularly in gamma band activity.
- Impaired perceptual processing of sensory information, not motor system malfunction, likely underlies delayed balance responses in the elderly.
- Findings highlight the importance of sensory processing and cortical adaptation in maintaining upright stance across the lifespan.
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