Abstract
Aging is associated with modifications of several brain structures and functions. These modifications then manifest as modified behaviors. It has been proposed that some brain function modifications may compensate for some other deteriorated ones, thus maintaining behavioral performance. Through the concept of compensation versus deterioration, this article reviews the literature on motor function in healthy and pathological aging. We first highlight mechanistic studies that used paradigms, allowing us to identify precise compensation mechanisms in healthy aging. Subsequently, we review studies investigating motor function in two often-associated neurological conditions, i.e., mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. We point out the need to expand the knowledge gained from descriptive studies with studies targeting specific motor control processes. Teasing apart deteriorated versus compensating processes represents precious knowledge that could significantly improve the prevention and rehabilitation of age-related loss of mobility.
Highlights
The proportion of old adults in the world population is growing rapidly [1]
This article presents a concise review of the literature on motor function in healthy aging and two often-associated neurological conditions, i.e., mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
In the past two decades, the concept of functional motor compensation in older adults has been a controversial subject of several brain imagery and stimulation studies that have investigated brain correlates of motor performance
Summary
The proportion of old adults in the world population is growing rapidly [1]. This phenomenon results in an increased prevalence of age-onset neurological conditions, thereby implying a heavy socio-economic burden [2,3,4,5]. Improving the prevention and rehabilitation of mobility loss requires a good understanding of motor function in healthy and pathological older populations. This article presents a concise review of the literature on motor function in healthy aging and two often-associated neurological conditions, i.e., mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This review aims at promoting studies that offer a mechanistic understanding of motor function as an expansion of purely descriptive studies
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