ABSTRACT
For many years there has been a great deal of ongoing research from numerous labs showing declines in both motor and cognitive functions in aging even in the absence of neurodegenerative disease. The alterations in motor function may include decreases in balance, muscle strength, and coordination
(Bartus, Flicker et al., 1983; Joseph, Hunt et al., 1992), while memory decits are seen on cognitive tasks that require the use of spatial learning and memory (Ingram, Spangler et al., 1994; ShukittHale, Mouzakis et al., 1998). The decits have been observed in both animals (Bartus, 1990; Ingram, Spangler et al., 1994; Shukitt-Hale, Mouzakis et al., 1998) and humans (Muir, 1997; West, 1996). Age-related decits in motor performance may result from decits in the striatal dopamine (DA) system (Joseph, Hunt et al., 1992) or cerebellum (Bickford, 1993; Bickford, Heron et al., 1992).
