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Somesthetic sensitivity in young and elderly humans.

D R Kenshalo

    Journal of Gerontology
    |November 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary

    Elderly individuals exhibit reduced sensitivity to mechanical stimuli like touch and vibration compared to younger adults. This age-related sensory decline affects all elderly participants, particularly for mechanical, not thermal, stimuli.

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    Area of Science:

    • Sensory neuroscience
    • Gerontology
    • Human physiology

    Background:

    • Aging is associated with sensory changes.
    • Cutaneous sensory perception is crucial for daily function.
    • Understanding age-related differences in somatosensation is important for health and safety.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To compare tactile, vibratory, and thermal sensory thresholds between young and elderly adults.
    • To identify age-related deficits in cutaneous sensitivity.
    • To investigate the prevalence of sensory deficits across different stimulus modalities and body sites.

    Main Methods:

    • Absolute sensory thresholds were measured in young (19-31 years) and elderly (55-84 years) participants.
    • Six modes of cutaneous stimulation were used: tactile indentation, 40 Hz and 250 Hz vibration, warm, cold, and noxious heat.
    • Stimuli were applied to the thenar eminence (hand) and plantar foot.

    Main Results:

    • Elderly individuals showed significantly lower sensitivity to mechanical stimuli (tactile and vibration) at both tested sites compared to young adults (p ≤ 0.001).
    • No significant differences in thermal thresholds were found, except for reduced sensitivity to warm stimuli in the elderly feet (p ≤ 0.001).
    • All elderly participants exhibited sensory deficits to at least one stimulus mode, with mechanical stimuli showing significantly more deficits than thermal stimuli (p ≤ 0.01).

    Conclusions:

    • Aging significantly impairs mechanical cutaneous sensitivity in humans.
    • While thermal sensitivity is largely preserved, warm perception in the feet may decline with age.
    • Sensory deficits are common in older adults, particularly for mechanical stimuli, regardless of specific age within the elderly range.

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