Biology of motor function and mobility in ageing

Question 1

What is gait?

Answer 1

Normal movement pattern, movement without aid.

Question 2

What is number 3?

Answer 2

The gait cycle

Question 3

What are some temporo-spatial parameters included in gait?

Answer 3

Step width and length
Symmetry
speed

Question 4

Why is gait important?

Answer 4

Diagnosis

Question 5

How does gait speed and age predict surival?

Answer 5

Exponentially decreases, like a flat dragged out L.

Question 6

How does gait decrease with age?

Answer 6

Decreases from 50.

Question 7

What is the use of gait speed?

Answer 7

Accessible indicator of health/brain the function of the older adult.

Question 8

What factors affect mobility?

Answer 8

Environment
Genetics
Lifestyle choices
Medication

Question 9

What parts of the body to gait control?

Answer 9

Sensory system

Support (muscles, bones)

Supply (blood system, lungs)

Question 10

What is the function of the frontal cortex in gait?

Answer 10

Planning of movement

Question 11

What is the function of the basal ganglia in gait?

Answer 11

Initiation of movement

Question 12

What is the function of the brain stem in gait?

Answer 12

Integration

Question 13

What is the function of the cerebellum in gait?

Answer 13

Co-ordination and adaptation.

Question 14

What is the function of the spinal cord in gait?

Answer 14

Spinal pattern generations.

Question 15

What are the cortical changes in control of gait with age?

Answer 15

Older people use their cortex a lot more, movements are more conscious.

Multisensory control increase with age.

Question 16

How was it proved cognition is important in gait?

Answer 16

• Continuous gait disturbance
• Episodic (freezing of gait)

Question 17

What is dual task walking?

Answer 17

Demonstrates how you can preform a task while walking.

Question 18

How can we measure the brain activity during walking?

Answer 18

1. Functional near-Infrared spectroscopy. (fNIRS)
2. Functional magnetic resonance imaging. (EEG)
   (fMRI) during imagined walking

Question 19

What kind of measurements are given with fNIRS?

Answer 19

Measures oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin

Question 20

What kind of measurements are given with EEG?

Answer 20

Measures voltage changes.

Question 21

What is the link between gait and dementia?

Answer 21

More gait impairments more likely to develop dementia.

Question 22

What are the CNS abnormalities that lead to mobility and cognitive decline?

Answer 22

• Brain atrophy
• Lewy Bodies
• Neuritic plaques
• Neurofibrillary tangles

Question 23

Does brain atrophy explain reduced mobility in older adults?

Answer 23

Some evidence suggests this is a big contributing factor.

Question 24

What is homocysteine?

Answer 24

The amino acid intermediate is formed during the metabolism of methionine.

Question 25

What is the risk with high homocysteine levels?

Answer 25

Peripheral vascular disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia.

Question 26

What do high homocysteine mean for gait?

Answer 26

Reduced gait speed.

Question 27

What is number 1?

Answer 27

Stance phase

Question 28

What is number 2?

Answer 28

Swing phase

Question 29

What is number 4?

Answer 29

Weight acceptance

Question 30

What is number 5?

Answer 30

Single limb support.

Question 31

What is number 6?

Answer 31

Limb advancement