Motor Performance Research Articles

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) induces psychostimulant, anxiolytic-like effects and improvement of motor performance in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is reported by traditional medicine as tonic, stimulating and beneficial in increasing resistance to fatigue. Previous preclinical studies in rats using aqueous extract of sugarcane leaves (AE) revealed pharmacological effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems involving the participation of dopaminergic pathways. This neurotransmission system is also related to motor, emotional and cognitive activities, which could, in part, justify the ethnopharmacological information. Aim of studyThe present study aimed to investigate the motor, emotional and cognitive activities of rats submitted to AE treatment using behavioral tests in order to correlate the pharmacological effects with the therapeutic benefits postulated by traditional medicine. Additionally, the chemical profile of AE was evaluated by HPLC-UV/Vis, and the presence of shikimic acid, vitexin, and ferulic acid, as possible chemical markers, was investigated through comparisons of chemical parameters with the authentic patterns, and a UV–Vis scan of known spectra. Material and methodsRats received water (1.5 mL/kg, p.o.) and AE (0.5, 10 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) in the absence and presence of haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), 90 min before open field; rotarod; elevated plus maze and inhibitory avoidance tests for investigation of motor; emotional and cognitive responses. As a positive control was used apomorphine (0.25 mg/kg, s.c.). The chemical profile of AE was evaluated by HPLC-UV/Vis and the presence of shikimic acid, vitexin and ferulic acid, as possible chemical markers, was investigated through comparisons with the retention times, an increase of the integral of the peak area determined by co-injection of AE with the authentic patterns, and a UV–Vis scan of known spectra. ResultsIn open field, it revealed that AE increased locomotion; reduced rearing but did not change freezing and grooming. Besides, AE increased motor performance in rotarod and reduced anxiety in elevated plus maze. A relation dose-response was observed in these tests where the lowest dose of AE was more effective in developing pharmacological responses. Previous administration of haloperidol inhibited the responses of AE. Inhibitory avoidance test revealed that AE did not modify fast-learning and associative memory. ConclusionsSugarcane induced psychostimulant, anxiolytic-like effects, and improvement of motor performance in rats, with the involvement of dopaminergic pathways. The present study points to AE as a potential adaptogen but, in addition to behavioral assessments, metabolic and molecular aspects, that involve the participation of a variety of regulatory systems, will be investigated in futures studies. Phytochemical analyses showed that AE is a complex matrix and revealed shikimic acid, vitexin, and ferulic acid as potential chemical markers.

Design and Experiment on Heat Dissipation Structures of Ducted Fan Motor for Flying Electric Vehicle

Ducted fan motors play a crucial role in promoting various applications of flying electric vehicles. In ducted fan motor systems, motor performance affects the speed of the fan, the flow field of the fan affects the thermal field of the motor, and the thermal field influences the performance of the motor. The coupling model between fan static thrust, motor power, and motor temperature rise is established in this paper. After confirming the external dimensions of the motor, three cooling schemes of the motor casing are designed. The casing forms are as follows: model 1 with smooth surface, model 2 with circular fins, and model 3 with longitudinal fins. The optimization work was carried out on the geometric dimensions of two types of fins for model 2 and model 3, and the static thrust and heat transfer performance of the motors were calculated. This study proposes that the ratio of thrust-to-temperature rise is an indicator for future optimization design of ducted fan motors. Model 3 with longitudinal fins has a higher thrust-to-temperature rise ratio. The thrust temperature rise in model 3 has increased by 24.77% compared to model 1.

Motor improvement of remote programming in patients with Parkinson's disease after deep brain stimulation: a 1-year follow-up.

Remote programming (RP) is an emerging technology that enables the adjustment of implantable pulse generators (IPGs) via the Internet for people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS). Previous studies have not comprehensively explored the effectiveness of RP in managing motor symptoms, often omitting assessments such as the rigidity and retropulsion tests during the follow-up. This study evaluates the comprehensive improvements in motor performance and the potential cost benefits of RP for PwPD with DBS. A retrospective analysis was conducted on two groups of patients-those who received RP and those who received standard programming (SP). Clinical outcomes including motor improvement, quality of life, and daily levodopa dosage were compared between the groups during a 12 (± 3)-month in-clinic follow-up. A total of 44 patients were included in the study, with 18 in the RP group and 26 in the SP group. No significant differences were observed in the frequency of programming sessions or clinical outcomes between the groups (p > 0.05). However, the RP group experienced significantly lower costs per programming session than the SP group (p < 0.05), despite patients in the former group living further from our center (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that RP could significantly reduce the costs of programming for PwPD with DBS, especially without compromising the effectiveness of treatment across all motor symptoms in the short term.

Comparison of Electromagnetic Performance in Interior Permanent Magnet Motors with Different Central and Bilateral Bridges

Studies on the central and bilateral bridges of interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors often focus on individual mechanical strength or electromagnetic performance, lacking comparative studies on the electromagnetic performance of motors with different central and bilateral bridges under the same mechanical strength. This paper designs three rotors with different central and bilateral bridges and compares the electromagnetic performance of the three motors. First, to ensure the safe operation of the three rotors at high speeds, the mechanical stress of each rotor has been analyzed using the finite-element method (FEM). Subsequently, the major electromagnetic performances of the three motors are analyzed and compared, including the air-gap flux density, back electromotive force (back-EMF), inductance, salience, torque, power, loss, efficiency, and demagnetization. The results indicate that the rotor without central bridges has the largest leakage flux and the lowest torque but exhibits minimal torque ripple. The rotor with narrower bilateral bridges has the highest torque and maximum torque ripple. The torque performance of the rotor with wider bilateral bridges lies between the two aforementioned motors, and it possesses the highest efficiency. In the end, by adjusting the dimensions of the permanent magnets, the torque of all three models increases, but the motor with narrower bilateral bridges still has the largest torque. These findings provide valuable references for rotor design.

Does a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation enhance both physical and psychological performance in national- or international-level athletes? A systematic review.

Some studies showed that a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has the potential of modulating motor performance in healthy and athletes. To our knowledge, previously published systematic reviews have neither comprehensively investigated the effects of tDCS on athletic performance in both physical and psychological parameters nor investigated the effects of tDCS on high-level athletes. We examined all available research testing a single session of tDCS on strength, endurance, sport-specific performance, emotional states and cognitive performance for better application in competition and pre-competition trainings of national- or international-level athletes. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Embase, and Scopus up until to June 2023. Studies were eligible when participants had sports experience at a minimum of state and national level competitions, underwent a single session of tDCS without additional interventions, and received either sham tDCS or no interventions in the control groups. A total of 20 experimental studies (224 participants) were included from 18 articles. The results showed that a single tDCS session improved both physical and psychological parameters in 12 out of the 18 studies. Of these, six refer to the application of tDCS on the motor system (motor cortex, premotor cortex, cerebellum), five on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and two on temporal cortex. The most sensitive to tDCS are strength, endurance, and emotional states, improved in 67%, 75%, and 75% of studies, respectively. Less than half of the studies showed improvement in sport-specific tasks (40%) and cognitive performance (33%). We suggest that tDCS is an effective tool that can be applied to competition and pre-competition training to improve athletic performance in national- or international-level athletes. Further research would explore various parameters (type of sports, brain regions, stimulation protocol, athlete level, and test tasks) and neural mechanistic studies in improving efficacy of tDCS interventions. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022326989, identifier CRD42022326989.

Design Of Maximum Torque Per Ampere Control Method In Squirrel Cage Three-Phase Induction Motor

Improving the performance of three-phase induction motors is currently carried out by various control methods. One of them is controlling a three-phase induction motor using the Maximum Torque Per Ampere (MTPA) method. This paper focuses on the study of modeling specific motor models using the MTPA method. The purpose of the study is to prove that with the squirrel cage motor model, the speed can be increased above its rating. The MTPA method is a method of controlling a three-phase induction motor by controlling the current from the torque speed. Modeling is tested to see the responsiveness of the modeled system. The experimental results were tested using two-speed references and the system showed that MTPA control induction motors can improve the performance of three-phase induction motors. The results from the design show that the MTPA method can increase the performance of three-phase induction motors to reach 84.4%. The results of this study can be used as one way to model induction motors.

QOL-16. IMPACT OF LESION LOCATION ON MOTOR AND COGNITIVE OUTCOMES IN PEDIATRIC CEREBELLAR TUMORS

Abstract BACKGROUND Children with cerebellar damage are at increased risk for various adverse outcomes, including higher rates of autism and long term neurocognitive challenges. Traditionally considered a motor structure, extensive evidence links the cerebellum to a range of behaviors and atypical cerebellar structure and function have been reported in multiple neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. A key feature of cerebellar neuroanatomy are the functional subregions that support sensorimotor and non-motor functions, leading to the hypothesis that motor, cognitive and behavioral outcomes should be predicted by the cerebellar lesion location.We aimed to determine how lesion location relates to outcomes in pediatric cerebellar patients. We predicted that lesions of the anterior lobe would disrupt motor performance, posterolateral lesions would impact cognitive functions, and behavioral dysregulation would be associated with posterior midline damage. METHODS We conducted lesion-symptom mapping in 30 children with a history of cerebellar tumor resection (sex: 19 male, 11 female; age at diagnosis, mean 6.8 years [SD 4.2]). Clinical MRI scans and neuropsychological data were used to evaluate the impact of lesion location on motor (pegboard), cognitive (verbal comprehension, verbal fluency, working memory, processing speed) and behavioral control measures (BRIEF). We mapped individual lesions using T1-weighted MRIs and normalized the lesion maps into standard template space for group analyses. RESULTS Behavioral scores ranged from impaired to above average. Lesion overlap maps were used to assess the lesion patterns associated with performance. As predicted, anterior and medial lesions disrupted motor performance and processing speed; posterolateral lesions were associated with impaired cognitive scores. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary analyses indicate that long-term outcomes are associated with disruption of specific cerebellar subregions. This could aid in prognosis and management of pediatric cerebellar tumor patients. Future work will address age of surgery, longitudinal changes in performance, and the developmental impact of early cerebellar disruption on supratentorial structures.

QOL-26. SYTHESIS OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGY

Abstract BACKGROUND Physical Activity plays a vital role in physical, social, phychological wellbeing of pediatric neuro-oncologic group. However, the researches investigating the effects of physical activity on this group have been sparse. The purpose of this study was to identify studies conducted about the effects of physical activity on this population. METHODS PRISMA statement conduct review was followed in electronic database of Journal of Neuro-oncology. Two authors (SY, MT) independently conducted systematic literature searches February 2024. Keywords/Mesh terms: “physical activity’’. Randomized controlled English clinical trials are included; Studies that were published as “review”, “protocol”, “books”, “news”, not reach full text and not related to physical activity excluded. After articles had been reached, used QUADAS-2 checklist for methodological quality. RESULTS 29 articles were identified from 1721 articles, and 2 of them (published 2014-2023) were about pediatric age group. One of them was assessment (50%), while the other one was interventional study (50%). Assessment study was measured by using Bruininks-Osteretsky Test of Motor Performance, Second Edition (BOT-2) and online surveys. Interventional study analyzed the effects of aerobic exercises of three 90-minute sessions per week for 12 consecutive weeks primarily on cortical thickness, white matter, hippocampal volume and secondarily reaction time, accuracy across tests of attention, processing speed, and short term memory. CONCLUSION This abstract provides an initial scoping review of physical activity in pediatric neuro-oncology group. It demonstrates limited range of assessments, and interventions which highlights the lack of clinical evidence in this specific area. The results raise the need for further research in this field to help the development of physical activity guidelines for evaluation and physical activity methods in children with ataxia, and tumours expecially posterior fossa brain tumors. Investigation of different physical activity methods in a group of neuro-oncology children in need of support is major importance.

Neural dynamics of delayed feedback in robot teleoperation: insights from fNIRS analysis.

As robot teleoperation increasingly becomes integral in executing tasks in distant, hazardous, or inaccessible environments, operational delays remain a significant obstacle. These delays, inherent in signal transmission and processing, adversely affect operator performance, particularly in tasks requiring precision and timeliness. While current research has made strides in mitigating these delays through advanced control strategies and training methods, a crucial gap persists in understanding the neurofunctional impacts of these delays and the efficacy of countermeasures from a cognitive perspective. This study addresses the gap by leveraging functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the neurofunctional implications of simulated haptic feedback on cognitive activity and motor coordination under delayed conditions. In a human-subject experiment (N = 41), sensory feedback was manipulated to observe its influences on various brain regions of interest (ROIs) during teleoperation tasks. The fNIRS data provided a detailed assessment of cerebral activity, particularly in ROIs implicated in time perception and the execution of precise movements. Our results reveal that the anchoring condition, which provided immediate simulated haptic feedback with a delayed visual cue, significantly optimized neural functions related to time perception and motor coordination. This condition also improved motor performance compared to the asynchronous condition, where visual and haptic feedback were misaligned. These findings provide empirical evidence about the neurofunctional basis of the enhanced motor performance with simulated synthetic force feedback in the presence of teleoperation delays. The study highlights the potential for immediate haptic feedback to mitigate the adverse effects of operational delays, thereby improving the efficacy of teleoperation in critical applications.

Design and Multi-Objective Optimization for Improving Torque Performance of a Permanent Magnet-Assisted Synchronous Reluctance Motor

Permanent magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance motors (PMA-SynRMs) are widely used in various industries as a relatively inexpensive and high-performance energy conversion device. The model proposed in this article relies on a magnetic pole-biased permanent magnet synchronous reluctance motor with a magnetic focusing effect. Two types of models with Halbach array and magnetic focusing effect have been proposed, which increase excitation and make the internal magnetic circuit of the rotor more saturated, thereby achieving higher electromagnetic torque. Through finite element simulation analysis and verification, the motor characteristics of the basic and proposed permanent magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance motor were calculated, including the air gap flux density and back electromotive force (EMF) in no-load analysis, as well as the average torque, torque ripple, and efficiency in load analysis. In addition, multi-objective optimization was also conducted on the rotor topology structure of proposed model two, using the uniform Latin hypercube sampling method to uniformly sample the data samples and the Pearson correlation coefficients to perform a sensitivity analysis on the data. The pilOPT multi-objective autonomous optimization algorithm was used to perform multi-objective autonomous optimization on parameters with high correlation, and the best-found solution based on the Pareto front was selected. Compared with proposed model two, the average torque of the optimized model increased by 18.14%, the efficiency increased by 1.05% and the torque ripple decreased by 5.22%. Finally, the anti-demagnetization performance of the optimized model’s permanent magnet was analyzed.

Protocol for a home-based self-delivered prehabilitation intervention to proactively reduce fall risk in older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial of transcranial direct current stimulation and motor imagery

BackgroundSeveral changes occur in the central nervous system with increasing age that contribute toward declines in mobility. Neurorehabilitation has proven effective in improving motor function though achieving sustained behavioral and neuroplastic adaptations is more challenging. While effective, rehabilitation usually follows adverse health outcomes, such as injurious falls. This reactive intervention approach may be less beneficial than prevention interventions. Therefore, we propose the development of a prehabilitation intervention approach to address mobility problems before they lead to adverse health outcomes. This protocol article describes a pilot study to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based, self-delivered prehabilitation intervention that combines motor imagery (mentally rehearsing motor actions without physical movement) and neuromodulation (transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS; to the frontal lobes). A secondary objective is to examine preliminary evidence of improved mobility following the intervention.MethodsThis pilot study has a double-blind randomized controlled design. Thirty-four participants aged 70–95 who self-report having experienced a fall within the prior 12 months or have a fear of falling will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an active or sham tDCS group for the combined tDCS and motor imagery intervention. The intervention will include six 40-min sessions delivered every other day. Participants will simultaneously practice the motor imagery tasks while receiving tDCS. Those individuals assigned to the active group will receive 20 min of 2.0-mA direct current to frontal lobes, while those in the sham group will receive 30 s of stimulation to the frontal lobes. The motor imagery practice includes six instructional videos presenting different mobility tasks related to activities of daily living. Prior to and following the intervention, participants will undergo laboratory-based mobility and cognitive assessments, questionnaires, and free-living activity monitoring.DiscussionPrevious studies report that home-based, self-delivered tDCS is safe and feasible for various populations, including neurotypical older adults. Additionally, research indicates that motor imagery practice can augment motor learning and performance. By assessing the feasibility (specifically, screening rate (per month), recruitment rate (per month), randomization (screen eligible who enroll), retention rate, and compliance (percent of completed intervention sessions)) and acceptability of the home-based motor imagery and tDCS intervention, this study aims to provide preliminary data for planning larger studies.Trial registrationThis study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05583578). Registered October 13, 2022. https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05583578

Severely reduced physical performance is already present at the time of admission for stem cell transplantation

ObjectivesPaediatric patients with cancer undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) face a high risk for life-threatening infections and transplant-related complications. Therefore, these children should be in the best possible...

Time synchronization between parietal–frontocentral connectivity with MRCP and gait in post-stroke bipedal tasks

BackgroundIn post-stroke rehabilitation, functional connectivity (FC), motor-related cortical potential (MRCP), and gait activities are common measures related to recovery outcomes. However, the interrelationship between FC, MRCP, gait activities, and bipedal distinguishability have yet to be investigated.MethodsTen participants were equipped with EEG devices and inertial measurement units (IMUs) while performing lower limb motor preparation (MP) and motor execution (ME) tasks. MRCP, FCs, and bipedal distinguishability were extracted from the EEG signals, while the change in knee degree during the ME phase was calculated from the gait data. FCs were analyzed with pairwise Pearson’s correlation, and the brain-wide FC was fed into support vector machine (SVM) for bipedal classification.ResultsParietal–frontocentral connectivity (PFCC) dysconnection and MRCP desynchronization were related to the MP and ME phases, respectively. Hemiplegic limb movement exhibited higher PFCC strength than nonhemiplegic limb movement. Bipedal classification had a short-lived peak of 75.1% in the pre-movement phase. These results contribute to a better understanding of the neurophysiological functions during motor tasks, with respect to localized MRCP and nonlocalized FC activities. The difference in PFCCs between both limbs could be a marker to understand the motor function of the brain of post-stroke patients.ConclusionsIn this study, we discovered that PFCCs are temporally dependent on lower limb gait movement and MRCP. The PFCCs are also related to the lower limb motor performance of post-stroke patients. The detection of motor intentions allows the development of bipedal brain-controlled exoskeletons for lower limb active rehabilitation.

The synergistic anti-nociceptive effects of nefopam and gabapentinoids in inflammatory, osteoarthritis, and neuropathic pain mouse models

Pain is a common public health problem and remains as an unmet medical need. Currently available analgesics usually have limited efficacy or are accompanied by many adverse side effects. To achieve satisfactory pain relief by multimodal analgesia, new combinations of nefopam and gabapentinoids (pregabalin/gabapentin) were designed and assessed in inflammatory, osteoarthritis and neuropathic pain. Isobolographic analysis was performed to analyze the interactions between nefopam and gabapentinoids in carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain, mono-iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis pain and paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathic pain in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect and motor performance of monotherapy or their combinations were evaluated in the carrageenan-induced inflammatory responses and rotarod test, respectively. Nefopam (1, 3, 5, 10, 30 mg/kg, p.o.), pregabalin (3, 6, 12, 24 mg/kg, p.o.) or gabapentin (25, 50, 75, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently reversed mechanical allodynia in three pain models. Isobolographic analysis indicated that the combinations of nefopam and gabapentinoids exerted synergistic anti-nociceptive effects in inflammatory, osteoarthritis, and neuropathic pain mouse models, as evidenced by the experimental ED50 (median effective dose) falling below the predicted additive line. Moreover, the combination of nefopam–pregabalin/gabapentin alleviated carrageenan-induced inflammation and edema, and also prevented gabapentinoids-related sedation or ataxia by lowering their effective doses. Collectively, the co-administration of nefopam and gabapentinoids showed synergistic analgesic effects and may result in improved therapeutic benefits for treating pain.

The effect of internal, external, and holistic focus of attention on standing long jump performance in novice and skilled karatekas.

An important application for training instructions is found in directing one's attentional focus. This direction can occur in different internal, external, or holistic forms. However, comparison between these three forms of instructions is a relatively recent development rarely reported at different skill levels or various sports including karate. Therefore, the present study attempts to investigate the effects of three forms of instructions on standing long jump performance in skilled and novice karatekas. The participants were 60 skilled and novice karatekas (all females; mean age: 21.32±1.65) who completed 12 standing long jump trials under different focus conditions (3 trials for each condition: internal, external, holistic and control condition) in a counterbalanced order. Our findings suggested significant main effects, indicating that skilled karatekas outperformed the novices. The findings also showed that regardless of skill levels, the participants exhibited similar performance under external and holistic focus conditions while performance in both of these conditions was superior compared to performance under internal focus and control conditions. No difference was observed between the control and internal focus conditions. It seems that skilled and novice karatekas may benefit from holistic and external focus of attention instructions which enhance their motor performance. Thus, it is recommended that coaches should incorporate these two types of attentional focus instructions into their training sessions.

Upper Extremity Motor Performance among Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy Patients with and without Head Control

Background: Cerebral Palsy refers to chronic abnormalities of movement and posture resulting from non-progressive disruptions in the developing fetus or immature brain. A key component of overcoming activity restriction is head control, which is essential for locomotor abilities and motor activities including grasping and sitting. Objective: To determine upper extremity motor performance among spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy patients, with and without head control. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study with 35 participants was conducted to investigate the interplay between head control and upper extremity function in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Two groups were formed based on the presence or absence of head control. Inclusion criteria comprised of both genders aged 1.09-10.02 with spastic quadriplegic CP, excluding those with contractures, botulin toxin injections, orthopedic surgery, or serious medical problem/seizures. Data entry and descriptive statistical analysis were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results:There was a statistically significant difference between the groups, one including participants with control and other without it as the P value is &lt;0.017. The group A, with head control, showed higher values of QUEST; therefore, showed significant correspondence. Conclusion: The study found a significant positive relationship between head control and upper extremity function in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Classification of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Using Manual Motor Measures

Introduction: Manual motor problems have been reported in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the specific aspects that are affected, their neuropathology, and potential value for classification modeling is unknown. The current study examined if multiple measures of motor strength, dexterity, and speed are affected in MCI and AD, related to AD biomarkers, and are able to classify MCI or AD. Methods: Fifty-three cognitively normal (CN), 33 amnestic MCI, and 28 AD subjects completed five manual motor measures: grip force, Trail Making Test A, spiral tracing, finger tapping, and a simulated feeding task. Analyses included (1) group differences in manual performance; (2) associations between manual function and AD biomarkers (PET amyloid β, hippocampal volume, and APOE ε4 alleles); and (3) group classification accuracy of manual motor function using machine learning. Results: Amnestic MCI and AD subjects exhibited slower psychomotor speed and AD subjects had weaker dominant hand grip strength than CN subjects. Performance on these measures was related to amyloid β deposition (both) and hippocampal volume (psychomotor speed only). Support vector classification well-discriminated control and AD subjects (area under the curve of 0.73 and 0.77, respectively) but poorly discriminated MCI from controls or AD. Conclusion: Grip strength and spiral tracing appear preserved, while psychomotor speed is affected in amnestic MCI and AD. The association of motor performance with amyloid β deposition and atrophy could indicate that this is due to amyloid deposition in and atrophy of motor brain regions, which generally occurs later in the disease process. The promising discriminatory abilities of manual motor measures for AD emphasize their value alongside other cognitive and motor assessment outcomes in classification and prediction models, as well as potential enrichment of outcome variables in AD clinical trials.

Insulin and TLR4 Inhibitor Improve Motor Impairments in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Insulin resistance is an important pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Proinflammatory cytokines during neuroinflammation decrease insulin sensitivity by suppressing insulin signaling elements. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), the main receptor involved in neuroinflammation, is also associated with the pathogenesis of PD. Objectives: The present study evaluated the effect of insulin, an insulin receptor antagonist, and a TLR4 inhibitor on behavioral deficits and insulin resistance induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups: (1) sham (normal saline [NS] in the medial forebrain bundle [MFB]); (2) 6-OHDA (20 µg in the MFB); (3) 6-OHDA + NS; (4) 6-OHDA + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); (5) 6-OHDA + insulin (2.5 IU/day, intracerebroventricular ([ICV]); (6) 6-OHDA + insulin (5 IU/day, intranasal [IN]); (7) 6-OHDA + insulin receptor antagonist (S961; 6.5 nM/kg, ICV); (8) 6-OHDA + TLR4 inhibitor (TAK242; 0.01 µg/rat, ICV); (9) 6-OHDA + insulin + TLR4 inhibitor. All treatments were administered for seven consecutive days. Motor performance was evaluated using apomorphine-induced rotation and cylinder tests. Gene expression and protein levels of α-synuclein, TLR4, insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1, IRS2, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) were measured by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively, in the striatum. Results: Insulin, alone and with TAK242, improved motor deficits induced by 6-OHDA. Administration of the insulin receptor antagonist had no effect on motor deficits. The increased expression of α-synuclein and TLR4 following 6-OHDA was attenuated by insulin and TAK242. GSK3β levels, both mRNA and protein, were significantly increased by 6-OHDA and attenuated with insulin and TAK242. Conclusions: The findings suggest that 6-OHDA induces neurodegeneration via activation of TLR4 and GSK3β, indicating insulin resistance, and that insulin can improve these impairments. Moreover, TLR4 inhibition prevents insulin signaling dysfunction and improves behavioral and molecular impairments, highlighting the critical role of TLR4 in the development of insulin resistance in PD pathology.

The maturation of infant and toddler visual cortex neural activity and associations with fine motor performance.

The infant N1m and P1m latency shows a nonlinear decrease.N1m latency decreases precede P1m latency decreases.N1m-to-P1m amplitude shows a nonlinear decrease, with stronger responses in younger than older infants.N1m and P1m latency are associated with fine motor DQ.

Lower motor performance is linked with poor sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and grey matter volume alterations.

Motor performance (MP) is essential for functional independence and well-being, particularly in later life. However, the relationship between behavioural aspects such as sleep quality and depressive symptoms, which contribute to MP, and the underlying structural brain substrates of their interplay remains unclear. This study used three population-based cohorts of younger and older adults (n=1,950) from the Human Connectome Project-Young Adult (HCP-YA), HCP-Aging (HCP-A), and enhanced Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland sample (eNKI-RS). Several canonical correlation analyses were computed within a machine learning framework to assess the associations between each of the three domains (sleep quality, depressive symptoms, grey matter volume (GMV)) and MP. The HCP-YA analyses showed progressively stronger associations between MP and each domain: depressive symptoms (unexpectedly positive, r=0.13, SD=0.06), sleep quality (r=0.17, SD=0.05), and GMV (r=0.19, SD=0.06). Combining sleep and depressive symptoms significantly improved the canonical correlations (r=0.25, SD=0.05), while the addition of GMV exhibited no further increase (r=0.23, SD=0.06). In young adults, better sleep quality, mild depressive symptoms, and GMV of several brain regions were associated with better MP. This was conceptually replicated in young adults from the eNKI-RS cohort. In HCP-Aging, better sleep quality, fewer depressive symptoms, and increased GMV were associated with MP. Robust multivariate associations were observed between sleep quality, depressive symptoms and GMV with MP, as well as age-related variations in these factors. Future studies should further explore these associations and consider interventions targeting sleep and mental health to test the potential effects on MP across the lifespan.