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The Journal of Neuroscience : the... Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Psychomotor Performance; Tool Use Behavior
PubMed: 38866537
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0248-24.2024 -
Neuro-degenerative Diseases Jun 2024Manual motor problems have been reported in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the specific aspects that are affected, their...
INTRODUCTION
Manual motor problems have been reported in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the specific aspects that are affected, their neuropathology, and potential value for classification modeling is unknown. The current study examined if multiple measures of motor strength, dexterity, and speed are affected in MCI and AD, related to AD biomarkers, and are able to classify MCI or AD.
METHODS
Fifty-three cognitively normal (CN), 33 amnestic MCI, and 28 AD subjects completed five manual motor measures: grip force, Trail Making Test A, spiral tracing, finger tapping, and a simulated feeding task. Analyses included: 1) group differences in manual performance; 2) associations between manual function and AD biomarkers (PET amyloid β, hippocampal volume, and APOE ε4 alleles); and 3) group classification accuracy of manual motor function using machine learning.
RESULTS
amnestic MCI and AD subjects exhibited slower psychomotor speed and AD subjects had weaker dominant hand grip strength than CN subjects. Performance on these measures was related to amyloid β deposition (both) and hippocampal volume (psychomotor speed only). Support vector classification well-discriminated control and AD subjects (area under the curve of 0.73 and 0.77 respectively), but poorly discriminated MCI from controls or AD.
CONCLUSION
Grip strength and spiral tracing appear preserved, while psychomotor speed is affected in amnestic MCI and AD. The association of motor performance with amyloid β deposition and atrophy could indicate that this is due to amyloid deposition in- and atrophy of motor brain regions, which generally occurs later in the disease process. The promising discriminatory abilities of manual motor measures for AD emphasize their value alongside other cognitive and motor assessment outcomes in classification and prediction models, as well as potential enrichment of outcome variables in AD clinical trials.
PubMed: 38865972
DOI: 10.1159/000539800 -
Science Robotics Jun 2024Repetitive overhead tasks during factory work can cause shoulder injuries resulting in impaired health and productivity loss. Soft wearable upper extremity robots have...
Repetitive overhead tasks during factory work can cause shoulder injuries resulting in impaired health and productivity loss. Soft wearable upper extremity robots have the potential to be effective injury prevention tools with minimal restrictions using soft materials and active controls. We present the design and evaluation of a portable inflatable shoulder wearable robot for assisting industrial workers during shoulder-elevated tasks. The robot is worn like a shirt with integrated textile pneumatic actuators, inertial measurement units, and a portable actuation unit. It can provide up to 6.6 newton-meters of torque to support the shoulder and cycle assistance on and off at six times per minute. From human participant evaluations during simulated industrial tasks, the robot reduced agonist muscle activities (anterior, middle, and posterior deltoids and biceps brachii) by up to 40% with slight changes in joint angles of less than 7% range of motion while not increasing antagonistic muscle activity (latissimus dorsi) in current sample size. Comparison of controller parameters further highlighted that higher assistance magnitude and earlier assistance timing resulted in statistically significant muscle activity reductions. During a task circuit with dynamic transitions among the tasks, the kinematics-based controller of the robot showed robustness to misinflations (96% true negative rate and 91% true positive rate), indicating minimal disturbances to the user when assistance was not required. A preliminary evaluation of a pressure modulation profile also highlighted a trade-off between user perception and hardware demands. Finally, five automotive factory workers used the robot in a pilot manufacturing area and provided feedback.
Topics: Humans; Robotics; Wearable Electronic Devices; Equipment Design; Biomechanical Phenomena; Male; Shoulder; Adult; Range of Motion, Articular; Torque; Muscle, Skeletal; Electromyography; Industry; Shoulder Injuries; Female; Young Adult; Task Performance and Analysis; Shoulder Joint; Exoskeleton Device
PubMed: 38865477
DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adi2377 -
Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS Jun 2024Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurological disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the Huntingtin gene (HTT). HD pathology mostly affects striatal medium-sized spiny...
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurological disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the Huntingtin gene (HTT). HD pathology mostly affects striatal medium-sized spiny neurons and results in an altered cortico-striatal function. Recent studies report that motor skill learning, and cortico-striatal stimulation attenuate the neuropathology in HD, resulting in an amelioration of some motor and cognitive functions. During physical training, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released in many tissues, including the brain, as a potential means for inter-tissue communication. To investigate how motor skill learning, involving acute physical training, modulates EVs crosstalk between cells in the striatum, we trained wild-type (WT) and R6/1 mice, the latter with motor and cognitive deficits, on the accelerating rotarod test, and we isolated their striatal EVs. EVs from R6/1 mice presented alterations in the small exosome population when compared to WT. Proteomic analyses revealed that striatal R6/1 EVs recapitulated signaling and energy deficiencies present in HD. Motor skill learning in R6/1 mice restored the amount of EVs and their protein content in comparison to naïve R6/1 mice. Furthermore, motor skill learning modulated crucial pathways in metabolism and neurodegeneration. All these data provide new insights into the pathogenesis of HD and put striatal EVs in the spotlight to understand the signaling and metabolic alterations in neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, our results suggest that motor learning is a crucial modulator of cell-to-cell communication in the striatum.
Topics: Huntington Disease; Animals; Extracellular Vesicles; Disease Models, Animal; Motor Skills; Corpus Striatum; Learning; Mice; Male; Mice, Transgenic; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38863004
DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01693-9 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jun 2024Sit-to-stand (STS) is one of the most commonly performed functional movements in a child's daily life that enables the child to perform functional activities such as...
BACKGROUND
Sit-to-stand (STS) is one of the most commonly performed functional movements in a child's daily life that enables the child to perform functional activities such as independent transfer and to initiate walking and self-care. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have reduced STS ability. The aim of this study was to describe STS performance in a national based total population of children with CP and its association with age, sex, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, and CP subtype.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 4,250 children (2,503 boys, 1,747 girls) aged 1-18 years from the Swedish Cerebral Palsy Follow-Up Program (CPUP). STS performance was classified depending on the independence or need for support into "without support," "with support," or "unable." "With support" included external support from, e.g., walls and furniture. Physical assistance from another person was classified as "unable" (dependent). Ordinal and binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify associations between STS and age, GMFCS level, and CP subtype.
RESULTS
60% of the children performed STS without support, 14% performed STS with support, and 26% were unable or needed assistance from another person. STS performance was strongly associated with GMFCS level and differed with age and subtype (p < 0.001). For all GMFCS levels, STS performance was lowest at age 1-3 years. Most children with GMFCS level I (99%) or II (88%) performed STS without support at the age of 4-6 years. In children with GMFCS level III or IV, the prevalence of independent STS performance improved throughout childhood. CP subtype was not associated with STS performance across all GMFCS levels when adjusted for age.
CONCLUSIONS
Independent STS performance in children with CP is associated with GMFCS level and age. Children with CP acquire STS ability later than their peers normally do. The proportion of children with independent STS performance increased throughout childhood, also for children with GMFCS level III or IV. These findings suggest the importance of maintaining a focus on STS performance within physiotherapy strategies and interventions for children with CP, including those with higher GMFCS level.
Topics: Humans; Cerebral Palsy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Male; Female; Child; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Sweden; Infant; Sitting Position; Standing Position; Motor Skills; Activities of Daily Living
PubMed: 38862936
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07557-0 -
Journal of Sports Sciences Apr 2024This study aimed to investigate inter- and intra-athlete technique variability in pre-elite and elite Australian fast bowlers delivering new ball conventional swing...
This study aimed to investigate inter- and intra-athlete technique variability in pre-elite and elite Australian fast bowlers delivering new ball conventional swing bowling. Ball grip angle and pelvis, torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist, upper arm, forearm, and hand kinematics were investigated at the point of ball release for inswing and outswing deliveries. Descriptive evaluations of group and individual data and k-means cluster analyses were used to assess inter- and intra-bowler technique variability. Inter-athlete technique and ball grip variability were identified, demonstrating that skilled bowlers use individualised strategies to generate swing. Functional movement variability was demonstrated by intra-athlete variability in successful swing bowling trials. Bowlers demonstrated stable technique parameters in large proximal body segments of the pelvis and torso, providing a level of repeatability to their bowling action. Greater variation was observed in bowling arm kinematics, allowing athletes to manipulate the finger and ball position to achieve the desired seam orientation at the point of ball release. This study demonstrates that skilled bowlers use individualised techniques and grips to generate swing and employ technique variations in successive deliveries. Coaches should employ individualised training strategies and use constraints-led approaches in training environments to encourage bowlers to seek adaptive movement solutions to generate swing.
Topics: Humans; Male; Biomechanical Phenomena; Motor Skills; Young Adult; Torso; Cricket Sport; Australia; Movement; Pelvis; Time and Motion Studies; Hand; Wrist; Adult; Shoulder; Upper Extremity
PubMed: 38861612
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2361598 -
PloS One 2024In response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown measures Move Well, Feel Good (MWFG) was developed as a school intervention using improvement of motor...
BACKGROUND
In response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown measures Move Well, Feel Good (MWFG) was developed as a school intervention using improvement of motor competence as a mechanism for promoting positive mental health. Study objectives were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MWFG and to describe changes in child-level outcomes.
METHODS
Five northwest England primary schools were recruited. MWFG was delivered over 10-weeks through physical education (PE) lessons, which were supplemented by optional class-time, break-time, and home activities. The intervention focused on development of 9-10 year-old children's motor competence in locomotor, object control, and stability skills, and psychosocial skills. Feasibility was evaluated against nine pre-defined criteria using surveys, interviews (teachers), and focus groups (children). Pre- and post-intervention assessments of motor competence, mental health, prosocial behaviour, wellbeing, and 24-hour movement behaviours were also completed.
RESULTS
The five recruited schools represented 83% of the target number, 108 children consented (54% of target) with teachers recruited in all schools (100% of target). Intervention dose was reflected by 76% of the 45 scheduled PE lessons being delivered, and adherence was strong (>85% of children attending ≥75% of lessons). Positive indicators of acceptability were provided by 86% of children, 83% of PE teachers, and 90% of class teachers. Data collection methods were deemed acceptable by 91% of children and 80% of class teachers, and children spoke positively about participating in the data collection. Child-level outcome data collection was completed by 65%-97% of children, with a 3%-35% attrition rate at post-intervention, depending on measure. Favourable changes in motor competence (+13.7%), mental health difficulties (-8.8%), and prosocial behaviour (+7.6%) were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
MWFG is an acceptable and feasible motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health. Content and delivery modifications could inform progression to a pilot trial with a more robust design.
Topics: Humans; Child; Male; Female; Mental Health; Feasibility Studies; Schools; COVID-19; Motor Skills; Physical Education and Training; England; Health Promotion; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 38861557
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303033 -
Neurology Jul 2024Aicardi Goutières syndrome (AGS) is type I interferonopathy characterized by severe neurologic impairment. Although many children with AGS demonstrate motor and...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Aicardi Goutières syndrome (AGS) is type I interferonopathy characterized by severe neurologic impairment. Although many children with AGS demonstrate motor and expressive language deficits, the magnitude of receptive language impairment is uncharacterized. We sought to characterize cognitive function in AGS-affected children using assessment tools with reduced dependence on motor abilities and compare cognitive testing outcomes with overall severity and parental assessment of adaptive behavior.
METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional study. Children were recruited as part of the Myelin Disorders Biorepository Project at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. We included individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of AGS. We administered the Leiter International Performance Scale, third edition (Leiter-3), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, third edition (VABS-3), in the context of research encounters. Motor skills were categorized by AGS Severity Scale mobility levels. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation were used to compare assessments. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests with correction with Dunn's multiple comparison test were used to compare test performance between mobility groups.
RESULTS
Cognitive and adaptive behavior performance was captured in 57 children. The mean age at encounters was 8.51 (SD 5.15) years. The median (IQR) Leiter-3 score was 51 (interquartile range [IQR] 60), with administration failure in 20 of 57 (35%) individuals. On the VABS-3, the Motor Domain (median 29, IQR 36.25) was more impacted than the Communication (median 50, IQR 52), Daily Living Skills (median 52, IQR 31), and Socialization (median 54, IQR 40) Domains ( < 0.0001). The AGS Scale correlated with VABS-3 ( = 0.86, < 0.0001) and Leiter-3 ( = 0.87, < 0.0001). There was correlation between VABS-3 Domains and Leiter-3 (-range 0.83-0.97). Gross motor and fine motor categories, respectively, correlated with VABS-3 ( = 39.37, < 0.0001; = 63, < 0.0001) and Leiter-3 ( = 40.43, < 0.0001; = 66, < 0.0001). Within each gross motor and fine motor category of the AGS Scale, a subset of children scored within normal IQ range.
DISCUSSION
Parental assessment of function by the VABS-3 correlated with directly assessed performance measures. Our data underscore the potential value of VABS-3 and Leiter-3 as tools to assess psychometric function in AGS. With a deeper understanding of our patients' abilities, we can better guide clinicians and families to provide appropriate support and personalized interventions to empower children with leukodystrophies to maximize their communication and educational potential.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Child; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Child, Preschool; Nervous System Malformations; Cognition; Adolescent; Neuropsychological Tests; Adaptation, Psychological; Motor Skills; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 38857477
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000209541 -
Journal of Vision Jun 2024When interacting with the environment, humans typically shift their gaze to where information is to be found that is useful for the upcoming action. With increasing age,...
When interacting with the environment, humans typically shift their gaze to where information is to be found that is useful for the upcoming action. With increasing age, people become slower both in processing sensory information and in performing their movements. One way to compensate for this slowing down could be to rely more on predictive strategies. To examine whether we could find evidence for this, we asked younger (19-29 years) and older (55-72 years) healthy adults to perform a reaching task wherein they hit a visual target that appeared at one of two possible locations. In separate blocks of trials, the target could appear always at the same location (predictable), mainly at one of the locations (biased), or at either location randomly (unpredictable). As one might expect, saccades toward predictable targets had shorter latencies than those toward less predictable targets, irrespective of age. Older adults took longer to initiate saccades toward the target location than younger adults, even when the likely target location could be deduced. Thus we found no evidence of them relying more on predictive gaze. Moreover, both younger and older participants performed more saccades when the target location was less predictable, but again no age-related differences were found. Thus we found no tendency for older adults to rely more on prediction.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Middle Aged; Adult; Male; Female; Saccades; Aging; Young Adult; Fixation, Ocular; Reaction Time; Photic Stimulation; Psychomotor Performance; Eye Movements; Age Factors
PubMed: 38856982
DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.6.8 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jul 2024Rodents actively learn new motor skills for survival in reaction to changing environments. Despite the classic view of the primary motor cortex (M1) as a simple muscle...
Rodents actively learn new motor skills for survival in reaction to changing environments. Despite the classic view of the primary motor cortex (M1) as a simple muscle relay region, it is now known to play a significant role in motor skill acquisition. The secondary motor cortex (M2) is reported to be a crucial region for motor learning as well as for its role in motor execution and planning. Although these two regions are known for the part they play in motor learning, the role of direct connection and synaptic correlates between these two regions remains elusive. Here, we confirm M2 to M1 connectivity with a series of tracing experiments. We also show that the accelerating rotarod task successfully induces motor skill acquisition in mice. For mice that underwent rotarod training, learner mice showed increased synaptic density and spine head size for synapses between activated cell populations of M2 and M1. Non-learner mice did not show these synaptic changes. Collectively, these data suggest the potential importance of synaptic plasticity between activated cell populations as a potential mechanism of motor learning. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Long-term potentiation: 50 years on'.
Topics: Animals; Motor Cortex; Mice; Learning; Motor Skills; Synapses; Neuronal Plasticity; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Male
PubMed: 38853557
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0228