Disrupted brain connections make hand coordination more difficult for the elderly
Coordinating both hands becomes harder as we age - and this is not only due to muscle strength, but primarily to changes in the brain. This is evident from research by Parinaz Babaeeghazvini, who demonstrates that aging leads to disruptions in both the structure and the cooperation of brain networks that control movement.
Using advanced techniques such as dMRI and EEG, Babaeeghazvini investigated how structural connections (white matter) and functional brain activity are related. Her results show that the quality of white matter connections between motor brain regions declines with age. This decline goes hand in hand with changes in functional activity, particularly in the left hemisphere.
That combination has clear consequences: the brain struggles more to synchronize signals properly. This creates interference between both hemispheres, leading to less precise and poorly coordinated movements with two hands. In addition, Babaeeghazvini discovered that brain regions involved in visual processing also function differently in older adults. This makes it more difficult to effectively use visual information - essential for many daily activities - while moving.
The impact of these findings extends beyond the lab. Activities such as tying shoelaces, cooking, or operating digital devices require good coordination between both hands and visual control. It is precisely these skills that prove vulnerable to aging.
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