title: Sensory and motor peripheral nerve function and longitudinal changes in quadriceps strength.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor peripheral nerve function is common in older adults and may be a risk factor for strength decline, although this has not been assessed longitudinally.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed whether sensorimotor peripheral nerve function predicts strength longitudinally in 1,830 participants (age = 76.3 ± 2.8, body mass index = 27.2 ± 4.6kg/m(2), strength = 96.3 ± 34.7 Nm, 51.0% female, 34.8% black) from the Health ABC study. Isokinetic quadriceps strength was measured semiannually over 6 years. Peroneal motor nerve conduction amplitude and velocity were recorded. Sensory nerve function was assessed with 10-g and 1.4-g monofilaments and average vibration detection threshold at the toe. Lower-extremity neuropathy symptoms were self-reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Worse vibration detection threshold predicted 2.4% lower strength in men and worse motor amplitude and two symptoms predicted 2.5% and 8.1% lower strength, respectively, in women. Initial 10-g monofilament insensitivity predicted 14.2% lower strength and faster strength decline in women and 6.6% lower strength in men (all p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor nerve function predicted lower strength and faster strength decline. Future work should examine interventions aimed at preventing declines in strength in older adults with impaired nerve function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Boudreau
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caserotti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology, Biometry, and Demography, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Tamara B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: VA Pittsburgh HCS and Department of Neurology and.
authors.forename: Sasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zivkovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Bret H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Goodpaster
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satterfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kritchevsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Ann V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
authors.forename: Aaron I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Vinik
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cauley
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. StrotmeyerE@edc.pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Elsa S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Strotmeyer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D014732:Vibration
keywords: Aging; Motor neurons.; Muscle weakness; Peripheral nerve function; Sensory function; Strength