Effects of Aging on Motor Unit Properties in Isometric Elbow Flexion

This study investigates age-related differences in motor unit (MU) properties and neuromuscular control during isometric elbow flexion across the human lifespan. High-density surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the biceps brachii of 44 participants, divided into three groups: Child (8–14 years), Adult (20–40 years), and Elder (65–80 years). MU spike trains were extracted noninvasively by sEMG decomposition. Then the discharge rate, MU action potential (MUAP) morphology, recruitment threshold, and common neural drive were quantified and compared across age groups. This study provides novel insights into force tracking performance, revealing that both children and elders exhibit higher errors compared to young adults, likely due to immature or declining motor control systems. Significant differences in MU discharge patterns were observed across force levels and age groups. Children and elders displayed lower MU discharge rates at low force levels, which increased at higher forces. In contrast, adults demonstrated higher MU action potential peak-to-peak amplitudes (PPV) and recruitment thresholds (RTs), along with steeper PPV-RT slopes, suggesting a narrower RT range in children and older adults. Principal component analysis revealed a strong correlation between common neural drive and force across all groups, with neural drive being weaker in elders. Overall, young adults exhibited the most efficient and synchronized MU control, while children and older adults showed distinct deviations in discharge intensity, recruitment strategies, and neural synergy. These findings comprehensively characterize MU adaptations across the lifespan, offering implications for developmental neurophysiology and age-specific neuromuscular diagnostics and interventions.