Sensory and Motor Differences in A Cognitive Aging Sample. (20th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ho, Emily; Mather, Molly A; Weintraub, Sandra; Gershon, Richard C.
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 18(2022)Supplement 7
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-12-20
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.068346
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Aging is associated with many different types of sensory, motor, and sensorimotor changes. Recent evidence suggests such behavior may be able to predict the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease, potentially even before cognitive symptoms manifest. Existing studies have generally examined only particular facets of sensation and motor, rendering comprehensive comparisons of sensorimotor behavior in this sample difficult. To fill this gap, we use the NIH Toolbox® Motor and Sensation Batteries in three groups: normal controls (NC), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Method: Participants (N = 336) were consensus diagnosed and grouped into either NC (N = 161), MCI (N = 104), and DAT (N = 71). Participants completed the NIH Toolbox Motor and Sensation Batteries. The motor battery included measures of Standing Balance, Grip Strength for both dominant and non‐dominant hands, Pegboard (dexterity) for both dominant and nondominant hands, the Walk 2 Minute, and the Walk 4 Meter. The sensation battery included measures of Odor, Visual Acuity (vision), Words‐in‐Noise, and Pain Interference. One‐way ANOVAs were conducted for each measure; effect sizes were also calculated. Result: For all motor measures with the exception of Standing Balance, there were significant diffrences. For grip strength, NC exhibited higher strength than those in the DAT sample (medium effect). For Pegboard, DAT exhibited the weakest performance, followed by MCI (medium to large effect). In general, the DAT walked slower than MCI and NC (large effect), respectively. For sensation measures, there were no differences in visual acuity or pain interference across cognitive groups. DAT participants had decreased olfactory capacity compared with MCI and MCI to NC (large effect). The DAT group and MCI group had more difficulty distinguishing noise from words than the NC counterparts (large effect). Conclusion: This represents one of the first studies to comprehensively characterize sensory and motor changes in a cross‐sectional sample of cognitive aging. Motor changes dominated; cognitive decline appeared more sensitive to both finer motor movements such as the pegboard task and gross movement such as walking. Sensation results were more mixed. We conclude with implications for sensorimotor changes and its relationship with cognitive performance in the latter life span.