Abstract

Background: Nerve conduction study (NCS) is the most sensitive test to measure electrical activity in peripheral nerve. The conduction velocity of the nerve depends on physiological factors such as age, gender, temperature, and height. Aging is accompanied by reduction in nerve conduction velocity, rate decrease in muscle contractility, and alteration in muscle metabolism and neuromuscular junction.

Aim and Objective: The main objective of the present study was to access the effect of aging on nerve conduction velocity.

Materials and Methods: The study was carried out at the assure electrodiagnostic center, Ahmedabad, among healthy individuals of age group 21–80 years. The motor NCS was performed for median, peroneal, tibial, and ulnar nerves. Analyzation of the data of distal motor latency, motor nerve conduction velocity, and compound muscle action potentials from the distal stimulation was done for all subjects.

Results: Males had significantly taller height (162.3 ± 3.6 cm) and more weight (69.2 ± 5.8 kg) than females (height: 154.5 ± 10.2 cm, P < 0.05; weight: 53.5 ± 5.8 kg, P < 0.05). Amplitude of lower limb nerves was also significantly decreased with increasing age (P < 0.05). With increasing in age, significant slowing of conduction velocity was observed in median and ulnar nerve, common peroneal and tibial nerve.

Conclusions: Age can affect amplitude and conduction velocity of motor nerve. With increasing an age, there is declining trend of conduction velocity and amplitude of motor nerve. Further researches are needed to clarify the trend of latency with increasing age.

Key words: Age; Amplitude; Velocity; Latency