Central and Peripheral Neuromuscular Adaptations to Ageing

Ageing is accompanied by a severe muscle function decline presumably caused by structural and functional adaptations at the central and peripheral level. Although researchers have reported an extensive analysis of the alterations involving muscle intrinsic properties, only a limited number of studies have recognised the importance of the central nervous system, and its reorganisation, on neuromuscular decline. Neural changes, such as degeneration of the human cortex and function of spinal circuitry, as well as the remodelling of the neuromuscular junction and motor units, appear to play a fundamental role in muscle quality decay and culminate with considerable impairments in voluntary activation and motor performance. Modern diagnostic techniques have provided indisputable evidence of a structural and morphological rearrangement of the central nervous system during ageing. Nevertheless, there is no clear insight on how such structural reorganisation contributes to the age-related functional decline and whether it is a result of a neural malfunction or serves as a compensatory mechanism to preserve motor control and performance in the elderly population. Combining leading-edge techniques such as high-density surface electromyography (EMG) and improved diagnostic procedures such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or high-resolution electroencephalography (EEG) could be essential to address the unresolved controversies and achieve an extensive understanding of the relationship between neural adaptations and muscle decline.

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Age-Related Changes in Muscle Fatigue Resistance in Humans

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100000858 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 220-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

K. Ming Chan ◽

Asim J. Raja ◽

Fay J. Strohschein ◽

Katherine Lechelt

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Muscle Fatigue ◽

Fatigue Resistance ◽

The Elderly ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction ◽

Age Related ◽

The Central Nervous System

Objective:The goal of this study was to compare the relative contributions from the muscle and the central nervous system to muscle fatigue resistance in aging.Methods:Each subject carried out 90 s of sustained maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) of the thumb using the thenar and forearm thumb muscles. Contractile capacity of the thenar muscles was assessed through tetanic stimulation of the median nerve. Interpolated doublets delivered during an MVC represented the overall voluntary activation level while transcranial cortical stimulation with an electromagnetic stimulator was used to assess motor output upstream from the corticomotoneuronal pathway.Results:Nine elderly subjects [four females and five males, 70±9 years old (mean±SD)] and 10 younger subjects (five females and five males, 30±6 years old) were tested. After the fatiguing exercise, the elderly group's MVC declined by 29% as opposed to 47% in the younger group (p<0.01). The elderly group's greater fatigue resistance was accounted for by increased fatigue resistance at the muscle level as well as in the central nervous system. At least some of the decline in the central motor drive was upstream from the corticomotoneuronal pathway.Conclusion:The higher muscle fatigue resistance in the elderly group was attributable to differences in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

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Severe haemophilia a in a preterm girl with turner syndrome - a case report from the prenatal period to early infancy (part I)

Italian Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s13052-020-00892-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Agnieszka Berendt ◽

Monika Wójtowicz-Marzec ◽

Barbara Wysokińska ◽

Anna Kwaśniewska

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Turner Syndrome ◽

X Chromosome ◽

Diagnostic Procedures ◽

Haemophilia A ◽

Severe Haemophilia ◽

Preterm Children ◽

Initial Symptoms ◽

The Central Nervous System

Abstract Background Bleedings are more frequent in the population of preterm children than among those born at term, much less in older children. The reasons for such bleedings in preterms include plasma factor deficiencies, immaturity of small vessels in the germinal matrix region, prenatal hypoxia or sepsis. They affect the brain tissue, the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system, or are manifested by prolonged bleedings from injection sites. Haemophilia is a rare cause of haemorrhages in the neonatal period, and in the female population it is even seen as an extremely rare disorder. Its aetiology in girls is diverse: inheriting defective genes from their parents, skewed X inactivation or a single X chromosome. Case presentation The article presents a case of a preterm girl born in the 28th week of pregnancy, who was diagnosed with severe haemophilia A stemming from the absence of the X chromosome. The girl’s father is healthy, but her mother’s brother suffers from haemophilia. On the second day of the child’s life, a prolonged bleeding from the injection site was observed. A coagulation profile revealed prolonged APTT which pointed to haemophilia A diagnosis. Moreover, a marked clinical dysmorphy, female sex and a negative family history on the father’s side led the treating team to extend the diagnostic procedures to encompass karyotype evaluation. The girl was diagnosed with Turner syndrome. No bleeding to the central nervous system was observed during her hospital stay. Conclusions Preterm children belong to the risk group of bleeding into the central nervous system or haemorrhages in the course of sepsis. Rare causes of such bleedings should also be borne in mind, including haemophilia. The initial symptoms of haemophilia in preterm children occur in the first days of their lives, which is connected with a number of invasive procedures required in that period. Genetic conditions may coexist with one another. Arriving at one diagnosis does not mean one should abandon further diagnostic procedures in cases where additional atypical symptoms are present which do not match the clinical image of a primary disease.

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Age-related changes in concentrations of vasopressin in the central nervous system and plasma of the male wistar rat

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development ◽

10.1016/0047-6374(92)90029-d ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 65 (2-3) ◽

pp. 127-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Dirk Terwel ◽

Marjanne Markerink ◽

Jellemer Jolles

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Wistar Rat ◽

Age Related ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Age Related Changes

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Diagnostic Difficulties in Primary Pauci-Melanotic Leptomeningeal Melanomatosis

European Neurology ◽

10.1159/000493197 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 80 (1-2) ◽

pp. 68-70

Author(s):

Ewa Koziorowska-Gawron ◽

Maciej Kaczorowski ◽

Joanna Bladowska ◽

Sławomir Budrewicz ◽

Magdalena Koszewicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Malignant Melanoma ◽

Rare Case ◽

Diagnostic Procedures ◽

Postmortem Examination ◽

Primary Malignant Melanoma ◽

Diagnostic Difficulties ◽

The Central Nervous System

We present a rare case of primary malignant melanoma of the central nervous system. We underline the difficulties we faced during diagnostic procedures. Finally, postmortem examination revealed the diagnosis of primary pauci-melanotic leptomeningeal melanomatosis.

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Age-Related Elevation of Lipid Peroxidation Products: Diminution of Superoxide Dismutase Activity in the Central Nervous System of Rats

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000213277 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 305-309 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Achla Gupta ◽

Mahdi Hasan ◽

Ramesh Chander ◽

Narinder K. Kapoor

Keyword(s):

Lipid Peroxidation ◽

Central Nervous System ◽

Superoxide Dismutase ◽

Nervous System ◽

Superoxide Dismutase Activity ◽

Lipid Peroxidation Products ◽

Age Related ◽

The Central Nervous System

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Low-grade central nervous system tumors

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2002.12.2.2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. Beatriz S. Lopes ◽

Edward R. Laws

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Diagnostic Procedures ◽

Central Nervous System Tumors ◽

Low Grade ◽

Pathological Features ◽

Nervous System Tumors ◽

Pathological Classification ◽

The Central Nervous System

Low-grade tumors of the central nervous system constitute 15 to 35% of primary brain tumors. Although this category of tumors encompasses a number of different well-characterized entities, low-grade tumors constitute every tumor not obviously malignant at initial diagnosis. In this brief review, the authors discuss the pathological classification, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and possible pathogenic mechanisms of these tumors. Emphasis is given in the neu-roradiological and pathological features of the several entities.

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Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms in Erythrocytes and in the Central Nervous System

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox8020046 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 46 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Rafael Franco ◽

Gemma Navarro ◽

Eva Martínez-Pinilla

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Defense Mechanisms ◽

Antioxidant Defense ◽

Circulatory System ◽

Reducing Power ◽

Antioxidant Defense System ◽

Age Related ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

High Level

Differential antioxidant action is found upon comparison of organ/tissue systems in the human body. In erythrocytes (red blood cells), which transport oxygen and carbon dioxide through the circulatory system, the most important issue is to keep hemoglobin in a functional state that requires maintaining the haem group in ferrous (Fe2+) state. Conversion of oxidized Fe3+ back into Fe2+ in hemoglobin needs a special mechanism involving a tripeptide glutathione, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glucose and NADPH as suppliers of reducing power. Fava beans are probably a good resource to make the detox innate system more robust as the pro-oxidant molecules in this food likely induce the upregulation of members of such mechanisms. The central nervous system consumes more oxygen than the majority of human tissues, i.e., 20% of the body’s total oxygen consumption and, therefore, it is exposed to a high level of oxidative stress. This fact, together with the progressive age-related decline in the efficiency of the antioxidant defense system, leads to neuronal death and disease. The innate mechanism operating in the central nervous system is not well known and seems different to that of the erythrocytes. The strategies of antioxidant intervention in brain will be reviewed here.

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