Effects of Motor Imagery on Motor Learning and Motor Retention in Octogenarian.

Effects of Motor Imagery on Motor Learning and Motor Retention in Octogenarian "IMAge-8".

Aging is associated with impairments in cognitive function, particularly motor learning and memorizing, impacting functional capacities. Older adults are still able to learn new skills but at a slower rate, and they forget quickly the new-learned skill because of an alteration in motor memory. Motor imagery, which is a mental simulation of an action without actual execution, has been demonstrated to improve performance in young adults and stabilize performance after a short break in older adults. However, in very old adults (>80 years old) for whom the decline in motor and cognitive functions is greater, it is unknown whether motor imagery training during a short break is still efficient. Previous studies on old adults were performed on upper limb muscles. Because aging differentially affects upper and lower limb muscles, the present study will aim to explore the effects of motor imagery on motor memorizing in both upper and lower limb muscles.

The primary purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of motor imagery to improve the performance of very old people (> 80 years) through learning a task of the upper limbs.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being part of the Proof cohort
• Signed written consent form
• Affiliated to social security

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pathology or chirurgical intervention causing locomotor disorder
• Neurological or psychic pathology
• Use psychotropic drugs
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) < 20