Mirror Neurons in Older Participants

Stopped early · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Muscle Weakness, Dynapenia, Sarcopenia

In brief

A critical problem facing aging adults is muscle weakness. Whereas scientists have traditionally attributed the loss of muscle strength with aging to muscle atrophy, emerging evidence suggests that impairments in the neuromuscular system's ability to voluntarily generate force plays a more central role than previously appreciated. One area that has not yet been investigated includes the role that observing another's actions - thereby activating mirror neurons - plays in muscle force generation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the acute effects of action observation on muscular strength, voluntary muscle activation, and cortical excitability and inhibition in older adults.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03946709

Run by

University of Central Florida

People needed

14

Starts

2018-12-20

Expected to finish

2020-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2021-06-28

Who can join

Age: 60 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Healthy men and women ≥60 years of age

You may not qualify if…

• Neuromuscular disease (e.g. Parkinson's, MS, ALS)
• Metabolic disease (e.g. diabetes, thyroid disorder, metabolic syndrome)
• Arthritis in the upper limbs (hands, arms, shoulders)
• Trouble using or controlling one's muscles
• History of cancer
• History of stroke
• History of heart attack
• Use of an assistive walking device or other mobility aids
• Physician mandated contraindication to exercise within the last 6 months
• Epilepsy or history of convulsions/seizures
• History of fainting or syncope
• History of head trauma that was diagnosed as concussion or was associated with loss of consciousness
• History of hearing problems or tinnitus
• Cochlear implants
• Implanted metal in the brain, skull, or elsewhere in the body
• Implanted neurotransmitter
• Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines
• Medication infusion device
• Past problems with brain stimulation
• Past problems with MRI
• Use of muscle relaxants or benzodiazepines
• Allergy to rubbing alcohol
• Any other health related illnesses that would prohibit a participant from physical performance testing
• Lack of transportation to and from the laboratory

Where it is running

• UCF Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory — Orlando, Florida, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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