Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition Section B, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition · Mar 6, 2017

Effects of aging on action-intentional programming

By Shoraka AR, Otzel DM, M Zilli E et al.

BACKGROUND: Action-intentional programs control "when" we initiate, inhibit, continue, and stop motor actions. The purpose of this study was to learn if there are changes in the action-intentional system with healthy aging, and if these changes are asymmetrical (right versus left upper limb) or related to impaired interhemispheric communication. METHODS: We administered tests of action-intention to 41 middle-aged and older adults (61.9 ± 12.3 years). RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that older age predicted a decrement in performance for tests of crossed motor response inhibition as well as slower motor initiation with the left hand. CONCLUSION: Changes in action-intention with aging appear to be related to alterations of interhemispheric communication and/or age-related right hemisphere dysfunction; however, further research is needed to identify the mechanisms for age-related changes in the brain networks that mediate action-intention.

doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2017.1287854PubMed 28264637Mechanisms