Brain Atrophy in Old Age Disrupts Sleep and Its Influence on Motor Memory
Material below summarizes the article White Matter Structure in Older Adults Moderates the Benefit of Sleep Spindles on Motor Memory Consolidation, published on October 30, 2017, in JNeurosci and authored by Bryce A. Mander, Alyssa H. Zhu, John R. Lindquist, Sylvia Villeneuve, Vikram Rao, Brandon Lu, Jared M. Saletin, Sonia Ancoli-Israel, William J. Jagust, and Matthew P. Walker.
Best described by the classic adage “practice makes perfect,” procedural memory encapsulates the ability to acquire new skills through repeated training. This training alters how our brains and bodies process information and perform specific behaviors, so when we carry out the same actions in the future, it will be “like riding a bike.”
Many studies show older adults are less able to learn new motor skills. Why this is so remains unclear, but recent findings suggest how well an older individual sleeps may matter.
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