Motor function, paratonia and glycation cross-linked in older people: Motor function decline and paratonia and their relation with Advanced Glycation End-products

Due to the double aging we see an increase in age-related problems. Characteristic of aging is also that movement (motor function) changes and becomes less smooth. Different mechanisms contribute to the age-related decline in motor function. One of these that may possibly be a factor in this decline are advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). There is increasing evidence that tissue damage by AGEs plays an important role in the aging process itself and age-related diseases. Different diseases also have an effect on motor function, for example dementia. With dementia, motor problems are well described, however, they are less studied than the cognitive aspects. This is especially the case with paratonia, a specific form of progressive hypertonia and movement stiffness that is experienced by those individuals with dementia. The results from this thesis contribute to the increasing evidence that AGE induced impaired skeletal muscle function, through tissue stiffness and intramuscular inflammation, contributes to motor function decline in the aging population. With the indications from this thesis that AGEs are involved in the pathogenesis of paratonia, we have something with which to pursue further research in combating paratonia, at least in the early stages of dementia, which might possibly prevent severe paratonia. The results of this thesis are a starting point for further research into the relationship between AGEs and motor function to keep the older population independent longer and improve quality of life and daily care of patients suffering from paratonia.