age-associated changes in the peripheral nervous system
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Introduction
The peripheral nervous system undergoes change with aging.
Physiology
- loss of spinal motor neurons
- decreased cranial nerve function
- decreased lower extremity vibration sensation[7]
- decreased thermal sensitivity
- decline in number & function of sensory nerves[5]
- decreased sensory nerve (sural nerve) action potential amplitude[7]
- sural sensory nerve action potential nonrecordable in 25% > 80 years[7]
- relative preservation of pain sensation[7]
- decreased size of large myelinated fibers
- increased heterogeniety of axon myelin sheaths
- slowed propagation of action potentials
- loss of neuromusclar junctions[5]
- decrease in fine motor control
- decrease in maximal strength of muscle contraction[5]
- delay in initiating movement[5]
- decreased Achilles tendon reflex[7]
- relative preservation of patellar reflex
Complications
- peripheral neuropathy is associated with excess risk of mobility impairment in the elderly[6]
More general terms
Additional terms
References
- ↑ Essentials of Clinical Geriatrics, 4th ed, Kane RL et al (eds) McGraw Hill, NY, 1999
- ↑ UCLA Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine & Board Review, Marina Del Ray, CA, Sept 29-Oct 2, 2004
- ↑ The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, 3rdh ed, Merck & Co, Rahway NJ, 2000
- ↑ Taffet GE, Physiology of Aging, In: Geriatric Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach, 4th ed, Cassel CK et al (eds), Springer-Verlag, New York, 2003
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Geriatric Review Syllabus, 7th edition Parada JT et al (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2010
Geriatric Review Syllabus, 8th edition (GRS8) Durso SC and Sullivan GN (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2013 - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ward RE et al. Sensory and motor peripheral nerve function and incident mobility disability. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014 Dec; 62:2273 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25482096
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Taams NE et al. Age-related changes in neurologic examination and sensory nerve amplitude in the general population: Aging of the peripheral nervous system. Neurology 2023 Aug 4; [e-pub]. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37541844 https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2023/08/04/WNL.0000000000207665