ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2021
Reduced Neural Excitability and Activation Contribute to Clinically Meaningful Weakness in Older Adults.
Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Age-Related Differences in Corticospinal Function and Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.The European journal of neuroscience · 2026Pooled it
- Neural contributions to age-related handgrip weakness revealed by multi-finger force deficit and dual-task testing.GeroScience · 2026Article
- Treating age-related loss of muscle mass and function: Where should we be focusing?The Journal of physiology · 2026Review
- Observational
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- Multi-Frequency Electrical Impedance Myography as a Predictor of Muscle Function in Older Adults.Muscle & nerve · 2025Article
- Role for neurological and immunological resilience in the pathway of the aging muscle powerpenia: InCHIANTI study longitudinal results.GeroScience · 2025Article
- 5-HTGeroScience · 2025Article
- Effect of maximal mental effort during elastic band training on neuromuscular adaptations in older women.Frontiers in aging · 2025Article
- Neural and muscular contributions to the age-related differences in peak power of the knee extensors in men and women.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2024Article
- Prediction of 1-year change in knee extension strength by neuromuscular properties in older adults.GeroScience · 2024Article
- Comparison of strategies for assessment of rate of torque development in older and younger adults.European journal of applied physiology · 2024Article
- Reductions in Motor Unit Firing are Associated with Clinically Meaningful Leg Extensor Weakness in Older Adults.Calcified tissue international · 2024Review
- A Biomechanical Simulation of Forearm Flexion Using the Finite Element Approach.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Optimization and construct validity of approaches to preclinical grip strength testing.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2023Article
- Neural Mechanisms of Age-Related Loss of Muscle Performance and Physical Function.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2023Review
- Relative Neuroadaptive Effect of Resistance Training along the Descending Neuroaxis in Older Adults.Brain sciences · 2023Review
- Public Health Need, Molecular Targets, and Opportunities for the Accelerated Development of Function-Promoting Therapies: Proceedings of a National Institute on Aging Workshop.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2022Article
- Using frequency to bolus-dose resistance training for brief pre-operative windows in geriatric abdominopelvic cancers prehabilitation.Journal of geriatric oncology · 2022Article
- Brain-Predicted Age Difference Moderates the Association Between Muscle Strength and Mobility.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWeakness is a risk factor for physical limitations and death in older adults (OAs). We sought to determine whether OAs with clinically meaningful leg extensor weakness exhibit differences in voluntary inactivation (VIA) and measures of corticospinal excitability when compared to young adults (YAs) and OAs without clinically meaningful weakness. We also sought to estimate the relative contribution of indices of neural excitability and thigh lean mass in explaining the between-subject variability in OAs leg extensor strength.
methodsIn 66 OAs (75.1 ± 7.0 years) and 20 YAs (22.0 ± 1.9 years), we quantified leg extensor strength, thigh lean mass, VIA, and motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and silent period (SP) duration. OAs were classified into weakness groups based on previously established strength/body weight (BW) cut points (Weak, Modestly Weak, or Not Weak).
resultsThe OAs had 63% less strength/BW when compared to YAs. Weak OAs exhibited higher levels of leg extensor VIA than Not Weak OAs (14.2 ± 7.5% vs 6.1 ± 7.5%). Weak OAs exhibited 24% longer SPs compared to Not Weak OAs, although this difference was insignificant (p = .06). The Weak OAs MEPs were half the amplitude of the Not Weak OAs. Regression analysis indicated that MEP amplitude, SP duration, and thigh lean mass explained ~62% of the variance in strength, with the neural excitability variables explaining ~33% of the variance and thigh lean mass explaining ~29%.
conclusionThese findings suggest that neurotherapeutic interventions targeting excitability could be a viable approach to increase muscle strength in order to reduce the risk of physical impairments in late life.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.