Key result
Younger adults show higher brain HbO2 levels during motor control compared to older adults.
Why the study?
The influence of aging on functional brain activation remains controversial, prompting investigation into age-related HbO2 changes across distinct motor control conditions in primary and association cortices.
Does age influence brain oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) levels during different motor control conditions in healthy adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=60)
No
Does age influence brain oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) levels during different motor control conditions in healthy adults?
p-value: p=<0.05
Aging is associated with reduced functional brain activation (lower HbO2 levels) in primary and association cortices during various motor control tasks.
Supports age-related decline in motor cortical activation; leaves open whether this predicts impairment or warrants intervention.
Background: Evidence suggests that aging contributes to decreased cerebral blood flow and brain oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) in the association cortices during rest. However, the influence of aging on functional brain activation is still controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the age-related dependence of HbO2 across distinct motor control conditions in both primary and association cortices. Methods: Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), this study assessed HbO2 level changes within the primary somatosensory cortex (PSC), primary motor cortex (PMC), supplementary motor cortex (SMC), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) under various motor control conditions. Analysis examined changes in the concentration of HbO2 measured by fNIRS during rest, motor execution (ME), motor passivity (MP) and motor imagery (MI) with elbow flexion in 30 younger (21.5 ± 1.17 years old) and 30 older (60.9 ± 0.79 years old) adults. Results: During motor execution HbO2 was higher in younger adults than older adults in bilateral PMC, bilateral PFC, left PSC, left SMC and left DLPFC (p < 0.05). During motor passivity, HbO2 was higher in younger adults than older adults in bilateral PMC, left PSC and left SMC (p < 0.05). During motor imagery, HbO2 was higher in younger adults than older adults in bilateral PFC and bilateral DLPFC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provided evidence that HbO2 levels are different in the primary and association cortices during different motor control conditions in young and old adults and that HbO2 levels in different brain regions under different motor control conditions can be influenced by age.
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Yu et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy adults (n=60). Motor control tasks (execution, passivity, imagery) vs. Older adults (age-based comparison) was evaluated on HbO2 concentration changes in primary and association cortices (p=<0.05). Younger adults demonstrated significantly higher HbO2 levels in multiple brain regions, including the primary motor and prefrontal cortices, during various motor control conditions compared to older adults.
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