How Age Affects Movement Disorders in the Brain
Our age has a big impact on how the basal ganglia—a part of our brain that helps with movement—works. As we get older, different factors can change how severe movement disorders are and how they show up in our daily lives.
Nerve Cell Loss: As we age, we lose nerve cells in the basal ganglia. For instance, in Parkinson's disease (PD), the number of cases goes up from about 2% in people aged 65-69 to around 4% in those aged 70-74. By the time someone is 75 or older, the number rises to about 6%.
Decrease in Dopamine Neurons: Another important change is the loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine in an area called the substantia nigra. By age 80, there might be only 50-70% of these cells left compared to younger people. This loss can lead to more problems with movement.
Older adults may experience different symptoms, such as:
Slowed Movement (Bradykinesia): When people are 70 or older, they can experience slowed movement more severely. This can make everyday tasks much harder compared to younger people.
Stiffness and Balance Issues: Stiffness and problems with balance can get worse with age, making treatment more challenging.
Older patients may not respond to treatments as well as younger patients. Research shows that about 30-50% of older adults with Parkinson's disease see little improvement with typical dopamine treatments. Younger patients usually respond better to these therapies.
Understanding how age affects disorders related to the basal ganglia highlights the importance of research focused on older adults. We need to create treatments that consider the unique needs of elderly patients. This way, we can help improve their quality of life.
How Age Affects Movement Disorders in the Brain
Our age has a big impact on how the basal ganglia—a part of our brain that helps with movement—works. As we get older, different factors can change how severe movement disorders are and how they show up in our daily lives.
Nerve Cell Loss: As we age, we lose nerve cells in the basal ganglia. For instance, in Parkinson's disease (PD), the number of cases goes up from about 2% in people aged 65-69 to around 4% in those aged 70-74. By the time someone is 75 or older, the number rises to about 6%.
Decrease in Dopamine Neurons: Another important change is the loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine in an area called the substantia nigra. By age 80, there might be only 50-70% of these cells left compared to younger people. This loss can lead to more problems with movement.
Older adults may experience different symptoms, such as:
Slowed Movement (Bradykinesia): When people are 70 or older, they can experience slowed movement more severely. This can make everyday tasks much harder compared to younger people.
Stiffness and Balance Issues: Stiffness and problems with balance can get worse with age, making treatment more challenging.
Older patients may not respond to treatments as well as younger patients. Research shows that about 30-50% of older adults with Parkinson's disease see little improvement with typical dopamine treatments. Younger patients usually respond better to these therapies.
Understanding how age affects disorders related to the basal ganglia highlights the importance of research focused on older adults. We need to create treatments that consider the unique needs of elderly patients. This way, we can help improve their quality of life.