Biology of motor function and mobility in ageing Flashcards
What is gait?
Normal movement pattern, movement without aid.
What is number 3?
The gait cycle
What are some temporo-spatial parameters included in gait?
Step width and length
Symmetry
speed
Why is gait important?
Diagnosis
How does gait speed and age predict surival?
Exponentially decreases, like a flat dragged out L.
How does gait decrease with age?
Decreases from 50.
What is the use of gait speed?
Accessible indicator of health/brain the function of the older adult.
What factors affect mobility?
Environment
Genetics
Lifestyle choices
Medication
What parts of the body to gait control?
Sensory system
Support (muscles, bones)
Supply (blood system, lungs)
What is the function of the frontal cortex in gait?
Planning of movement
What is the function of the basal ganglia in gait?
Initiation of movement
What is the function of the brain stem in gait?
Integration
What is the function of the cerebellum in gait?
Co-ordination and adaptation.
What is the function of the spinal cord in gait?
Spinal pattern generations.
What are the cortical changes in control of gait with age?
Older people use their cortex a lot more, movements are more conscious.
Multisensory control increase with age.
How was it proved cognition is important in gait?
- Continuous gait disturbance
- Episodic (freezing of gait)
What is dual task walking?
Demonstrates how you can preform a task while walking.
How can we measure the brain activity during walking?
- Functional near-Infrared spectroscopy. (fNIRS)
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging. (EEG)
(fMRI) during imagined walking
What kind of measurements are given with fNIRS?
Measures oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin
What kind of measurements are given with EEG?
Measures voltage changes.
What is the link between gait and dementia?
More gait impairments more likely to develop dementia.
What are the CNS abnormalities that lead to mobility and cognitive decline?
- Brain atrophy
- Lewy Bodies
- Neuritic plaques
- Neurofibrillary tangles
Does brain atrophy explain reduced mobility in older adults?
Some evidence suggests this is a big contributing factor.
What is homocysteine?
The amino acid intermediate is formed during the metabolism of methionine.
What is the risk with high homocysteine levels?
Peripheral vascular disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia.
What do high homocysteine mean for gait?
Reduced gait speed.
What is number 1?
Stance phase
What is number 2?
Swing phase
What is number 4?
Weight acceptance
What is number 5?
Single limb support.
What is number 6?
Limb advancement
