AGE CHANGES IN RESPONSE SPEED AND NERVE CONDUCTION

工作总结： 年龄与运动和损失的减缓有关 力量在一个关键的层面上，这可能是导致 老年人的功能性残疾。这些生物的自然历史 发生了变化，但人们对原因知之甚少。在过去的一年里， 我们进一步探讨了神经功能对年龄的影响， 使用从BLSA收集的数据， 1967-1970. 年龄相关的肌肉力量损失归因于肌肉减少 马萨诸塞州力量和质量都依赖于肌肉的神经支配。中值 在较小程度上，尺神经是提供抓握的主要神经 实力正中神经而非尺神经与握力显著相关 力量沿着增长和前臂周长。我们用路径分析 研究年龄、正中神经、体格 活动和前臂周长（作为手臂肌肉质量的估计） 握力每一个都对抓地力有独立的贡献 实力此外，年龄和体力活动直接影响 前臂周长此外，年龄的影响似乎有所不同 年轻人和老年人的差异运动神经、肌肉质量和年龄 显著的，独立的贡献，与年龄相关的水平， 实力 与我们的项目有关的进一步分析正在进行中 “年龄对肌肉力量、身体成分和健康状况的影响，” 来了解这些变化的时间进程。

Summary of Work: Age is associated with a slowing of movement and loss of strength. At a critical level this can be an important factor leading to functional disability in the elderly. The natural history of how these changes occur and the causes are poorly understood. During the past year, we have further explored the contribution of nerve function to age associated loss of strength using data collected from the BLSA in 1967-1970. Age associated muscle strength loss is attributed to decreasing muscle mass. Both strength and mass are dependent on muscle innervation. Median and, to a lesser extent, ulnar nerves are the major nerves supplying grip strength. Median but not ulnar nerve significantly related to grip strength along with age and forearm circumference. We used path analysis to investigate the relationships between age, median nerve, physical activity and forearm circumference (as an estimate of arm muscle mass) on grip strength. Each of these had independent contributions to grip strength. In addition, age, and physical activity directly influenced forearm circumference. Furthermore, the effect of age appeared to differ in younger versus older men. Motor nerves, muscle mass and age have significant, independent contributions to age associated levels of strength. Further analyses are under way in association with our project "Effects of Age on Muscle Strength, Body Composition and Health Status," to understand the time course of these changes.