Neural changes and plasticity of the human motor system after 65 years of age

健康的衰老与经验和智慧相关。同时，身体各系统的最佳功能也在下降。55岁后，控制我们肌肉的脊髓细胞开始慢慢死亡，因此肌肉变得更小。然而，任何年龄段的锻炼都可以减缓我们肌肉力量的下降。除了身体上的变化，大脑中控制运动的区域也改变了他们的活动模式。拟议的项目旨在研究其中的一些变化。其中一些实验旨在调查老年人的反应和反应时间与年轻人的不同。其他实验的目的是观察较老的神经系统是否仍然具有可塑性并能够改善功能。例如，与年轻人相比，老年人在改变他们的反应和反应时间方面有多大的控制力？老年人能像年轻人一样学会提高他们的反应能力和反应时间吗？最近的文献报道显示，年轻人的大脑非常可塑性，这意味着练习一个特定的运动可以迅速重组大脑连接。我们将讨论这种情况是否也适用于老年人。训练运动系统可以改善平衡、心肺系统、胃肠功能、流向大脑的血液--我们身体的一般功能。虽然下国际象棋或玩填字游戏确实可以提高我们的心智能力，但仅靠提高心智能力并不能让老年人保持身体独立。然而，学习新的运动技能，这是针对年龄而优化的，将有益于大脑和体格。

Healthy ageing is correlated with experience and wisdom. At the same time, there is a decline in optimal functioning of various systems of the body. After the age of 55 years, the cells in the spinal cord, which control our muscles, slowly start to die, and consequently, muscles become smaller. However, exercise at any age can slow down the decline in our muscular strength. In addition to physical changes, the areas of the brain that control movement also change their activity patterns. The proposed project seeks to examine some of those changes. A few of the experiments are designed to investigate how reflexes and reaction times in older adults differ from those of younger adults. Other experiments are designed to see if the older nervous system is still plastic and capable of improved function. For example, how much control do older adults have in changing their reflexes and reactions times compared to younger adults? Can older adults learn to enhance their reflexes and reaction times as much as younger adults can? Recent reports in the literature have shown the young adult brain to be very plastic, meaning that practice of a particular movement can quickly reorganize the brain connections. We will address whether this is also the case in older adults. Training the motor system improves balance, cardio-respiratory systems, gastrointestinal function, blood flow to the brain - the general functioning of our bodies. Although it is true that playing chess or doing crossword puzzles can improve our mental abilities, improving mental abilities alone will not keep the elderly population physically independent. However, learning new motor skills, which are optimized for age, will benefit the brain, as well as the physique.