title: Automated video analysis of age-related motor deficits in monkeys using EthoVision.
abstract: Previous studies comparing age-related changes in locomotor function in nonhuman primates have generally relied on subjective human observations or rudimentary infrared motion sensors. Here, we used the automated video-tracking system EthoVision to objectively quantify locomotor activity in 6 young, 6 middle-aged and 12 aged female rhesus monkeys. The video records were analyzed for distance traveled, movement speed and vertical activity. Our results showed that the young monkeys (4.9 +/- 0.1 years old) traveled twice the distance and moved 48% faster than the middle-aged monkeys (15.7 +/- 0.5 years old), and traveled thrice the distance and moved 67% faster than the aged monkeys (26.3 +/- 0.9 years old). In addition, young monkeys were vertically more active (20/60 min) than both the middle-aged (7/60 min) and the aged (1/60 min) monkeys. Furthermore, the locomotor performance of the individual animals significantly correlated with increasing age for all three measures. We conclude that EthoVision is a reliable and objective tracking method for detecting age-related differences in locomotor movements in rhesus macaques, and possibly in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 305 Davis Mills Building (MRISC), Lexington, KY 40536-0098, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Branham
authors.forename: Don M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gash
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grondin
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008124:Locomotion; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*