OBJECTIVE: To identify the MRI imaging findings associated with motor changes in healthy older people. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A study of neurologic function in very healthy older people, the Oregon Brain Aging Study. PARTICIPANTS: Clinical and MRI data were examined in 50 very healthy older subjects (mean age = 85.1, SD = 7.2 years). MEASUREMENTS: Clinical measures (finger tapping, hand opening and closing, steps and time to walk 30 feet and timed standing on one foot) were dependent variables in multiple regression analyses using age and the following MRI measures as independent variables: total brain volume (TBV)/intracranial volume; ventricular volume/TBV; periventricular high signal/TBV; deep high signal/TBV. RESULTS: The number of steps and the time to walk 30 feet were each associated with periventricular high signal (steps: r = .58, P < .001; time: r = .60, P < .001) and ventricular volume (steps: r = .54, P < .001; time: r = .58, P < .001). These associations remained significant after adjusting for age. None of the other clinical variables was associated with the MRI volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Gait measures were associated significantly with periventricular high signal and ventricular volume. These CNS changes contribute to the cause of these important markers of aging.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the MRI imaging findings associated with motor changes in healthy older people. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A study of neurologic function in very healthy older people, the Oregon Brain Aging Study. PARTICIPANTS: Clinical and MRI data were examined in 50 very healthy older subjects (mean age = 85.1, SD = 7.2 years). MEASUREMENTS: Clinical measures (finger tapping, hand opening and closing, steps and time to walk 30 feet and timed standing on one foot) were dependent variables in multiple regression analyses using age and the following MRI measures as independent variables: total brain volume (TBV)/intracranial volume; ventricular volume/TBV; periventricular high signal/TBV; deep high signal/TBV. RESULTS: The number of steps and the time to walk 30 feet were each associated with periventricular high signal (steps: r = .58, P < .001; time: r = .60, P < .001) and ventricular volume (steps: r = .54, P < .001; time: r = .58, P < .001). These associations remained significant after adjusting for age. None of the other clinical variables was associated with the MRI volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Gait measures were associated significantly with periventricular high signal and ventricular volume. These CNS changes contribute to the cause of these important markers of aging.
Authors: Jennifer C Davis; Lindsay S Nagamatsu; Chun Liang Hsu; B Lynn Beattie; Teresa Liu-Ambrose Journal: Age Ageing Date: 2012-03-21 Impact factor: 10.668
Authors: Caterina Rosano; Stephanie A Studenski; Howard J Aizenstein; Robert M Boudreau; William T Longstreth; Anne B Newman Journal: Age Ageing Date: 2011-09-28 Impact factor: 10.668
Authors: Jennifer S Brach; Stephanie Studenski; Subashan Perera; Jessie M VanSwearingen; Anne B Newman Journal: Gait Posture Date: 2007-07-13 Impact factor: 2.840
Authors: Nicola Moscufo; Charles R G Guttmann; Dominik Meier; Istvan Csapo; Peter G Hildenbrand; Brian C Healy; Julia A Schmidt; Leslie Wolfson Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2009-05-09 Impact factor: 4.673
Authors: Patrick J Sparto; Howard J Aizenstein; Jessie M Vanswearingen; Caterina Rosano; Subashan Perera; Stephanie A Studenski; Joseph M Furman; Mark S Redfern Journal: Exp Brain Res Date: 2008-06-11 Impact factor: 1.972
Authors: J M Starr; S A Leaper; A D Murray; H A Lemmon; R T Staff; I J Deary; L J Whalley Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 10.154