Age-Related Changes in the Response of Finger Skin Blood Flow during a Braille Character Discrimination Task

Murata, Jun and Murata, Shin and Kodama, Takayuki and Nakano, Hideki and Soma, Masayuki and Nakae, Hideyuki and Satoh, Yousuke and Kogo, Haruki and Umeki, Naho (2021) Age-Related Changes in the Response of Finger Skin Blood Flow during a Braille Character Discrimination Task. Healthcare, 9 (2). p. 143. ISSN 2227-9032

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Abstract

We hypothesized that age-related changes in sensory function might be reflected by a modulation of the blood flow response associated with tactile sensation. The aim of the present study was to clarify how the blood flow response of the fingers during concentrated finger perception is affected by aging. We measured the tactile-pressure threshold of the distal palmar pad of the index finger and skin blood flow in the finger (SBF) during Braille reading performed under blind conditions in young (n = 27) and older (n = 37) subjects. As a result, the tactile-pressure threshold was higher in older subjects (2.99 ± 0.37 log10 0.1 mg) than in young subjects (2.76 ± 0.24 log10 0.1 mg) (p < 0.01). On the other hand, the SBF response was markedly smaller in older subjects (−4.9 ± 7.0%) than in young subjects (−25.8 ± 15.4%) (p < 0.01). Moreover, the peak response arrival times to Braille reading in older and young subjects were 12.5 ± 3.1 s and 8.8 ± 3.6 s, respectively (p < 0.01). A decline in tactile sensitivity occurs with aging. Blood flow responses associated with tactile sensation are also affected by aging, as represented by a decrease in blood flow and a delay in the reaction time.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Journal Eprints > Medical Science
Depositing User: Managing Editor
Date Deposited: 16 Mar 2023 09:56
Last Modified: 16 Jul 2024 06:53
URI: http://repository.journal4submission.com/id/eprint/695

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