SynthesisThe European journal of neuroscience2026
Age-Related Differences in Corticospinal Function and Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in The European journal of neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Age-Related Differences in Corticospinal Function and Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.The European journal of neuroscience · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Age-related declines in neuromuscular performance are well documented; however, the cortical processes underlying these changes remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared younger and older adults across key transcranial magnetic stimulation measures of corticospinal and intracortical function, including corticospinal excitability, cortical silent period, intracortical facilitation and intracortical inhibition. Age-related differences in maximal voluntary strength were also quantified as a secondary outcome. A comprehensive literature search identified 52 eligible studies from 1682 records. Methodological quality was evaluated using a modified Downs and Black checklist, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. A random-effects model was applied to calculate standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Compared to younger adults, older adults produced lower maximal isometric voluntary force (SMD = -0.76) and exhibited reduced resting motor evoked potential amplitudes (SMD = -0.55) and intracortical facilitation (SMD = -0.27). These age-related differences were not observed during active contractions. Cortical silent period duration was longer in older adults (SMD = 0.39). No age-related differences were found in short- or long-interval intracortical inhibition. These findings indicate that ageing is associated with reduced resting corticospinal and intracortical excitability, prolonged cortical silent periods and lower maximal voluntary strength. As neural and strength outcomes were analysed independently, a causal relationship cannot be established, but the parallel pattern points to central neural alterations as plausible targets for future interventions aimed at mitigating age-related neuromuscular decline.
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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.