Age-related changes in saccadic eye movements in healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Age-related changes in characteristics of saccadic eye movements (latency, duration and percentage of multistep saccades) in healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease were evaluated. Healthy volunteers were divided into 6 age groups (17-20 years, 21-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-75 years), parkinsonian patients into 3 age groups (41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-75 years). According to our data, saccade characteristics depend upon age in both healthy subjects and parkinsonian patients. In healthy volunteers the percentage of multistep saccades and the mean saccade latency increase significantly after the age of 60. Values of these characteristics in patients with Parkinson's disease significantly exceed the values in the corresponding age groups of healthy subjects. The "disease" factor (MANOVA) has a greater influence on saccade latency and percentage of multistep saccades then the "age" factor. The duration of single saccades depends on age to a smaller extent and does not change in patients with Parkinson's disease. The peculiarities of neurodegenerative processes during normal aging and aging with Parkinson's disease are discussed.