Cross-sectional analysis of neurological findings among healthy elderly: study in a remote island in Kagoshima, Japan

Abstract

We have conducted annual health checkup surveys of elderly subjects aged 60 years or older in a remote island of southwestern Japan. After excluding patients with neurological diseases and the subjects who needed help in activities of daily living, a cross-sectional analysis of the data obtained from 348 elderly people aged 60-89 years was made. We examined the age and sex distributions of abnormal neurological findings, including the scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). In this study, aging was associated with muscle weakness in the lower limbs, cerebellar dysfunction, hand tremor, decrease in handgrip, abnormality of deep sensation and a decrease in the MMSE score. These findings suggest a characteristic pattern of nervous system deterioration with age. We discuss the possible pathogenesis and significance of these findings that should contribute to a better understanding of normal aging in the nervous system.