Colorado: It’s a common observation that our bodies naturally slow down as we age, but what exactly causes this?
Some possible explanations have been put forward, including a slower metabolism, muscle wasting with age and less physical activity over time. However, researchers from the University of Colorado now say that older people slow down their movements to use less energy.
The new research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, states that this new research could lead to new diagnostic methods for disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
For the study, researchers recruited 84 healthy participants, including young adults aged 18 to 35 years and elderly adults aged 66 to 87 years. Participants were asked to reach a target in front of them while holding a robotic arm in their right hand.
After the participants completed the goals, the scientists analyzed the results and found that the older adults used more of their limited amount of energy than the younger adults, and they changed their movements at specific times to make up for it. .
University of Colorado Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Dr. Ali A. As we age, our muscle cells lose the ability to convert energy into force to a great extent and thus our movements slow down, Ahmed said.
