Sensorimotor Impairment in Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders: Beat Synchronization and Adaptation to Tempo Changes

Article type: Research Article

Authors: von Schnehen, Andres^a | Hobeika, Lise^{a; b; c} | Houot, Marion^{d; e; f} | Recher, Arnaud^g | Puisieux, François^h | Huvent-Grelle, Dominique^h | Samson, Séverine^{a; b; c; i; *}

Affiliations: [a] Univ. Lille, ULR 4072 – PSITEC – Psychologie: Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition, Lille, France | [b] Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau – Paris Brain Institute – ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France | [c] Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l’Audition, Paris, France | [d] Centre of Excellence of Neurodegenerative Disease (CoEN), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France | [e] Department of Neurology, Institute of Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IM2A), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France | [f] Clinical Investigation Centre, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France | [g] STMS, IRCAM, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, Paris, France | [h] Hôpital Gériatrique les Bateliers, Pôle de Gérontologie, CHU Lille, Lille, France | [i] Epilepsy Unit, AP-HP, GHU Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Paris, France

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Séverine Samson, PhD, Équipe Neuropsychologie et Audition, Laboratoire PSITEC – ULR 4072, Faculté de Psychologie, des Sciences de l’Éducation et de la Formation (PsySEF), Université de Lille, Pont de Bois BP 60149, F-59 653 Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex, France. Tel.: +33 3 20 41 64 43; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Background:Understanding the nature and extent of sensorimotor decline in aging individuals and those with neurocognitive disorders (NCD), such as Alzheimer’s disease, is essential for designing effective music-based interventions. Our understanding of rhythmic functions remains incomplete, particularly in how aging and NCD affect sensorimotor synchronization and adaptation to tempo changes. Objective:This study aimed to investigate how aging and NCD severity impact tapping to metronomes and music, with and without tempo changes. Methods:Patients from a memory clinic participated in a tapping task, synchronizing with metronomic and musical sequences, some of which contained sudden tempo changes. After exclusions, 51 patients were included in the final analysis. Results:Participants’ Mini-Mental State Examination scores were associated with tapping consistency. Additionally, age negatively influenced consistency when synchronizing with a musical beat, whereas consistency remained stable across age when tapping with a metronome. Conclusions:The results indicate that the initial decline of attention and working memory with age may impact perception and synchronization to a musical beat, whereas progressive NCD-related cognitive decline results in more widespread sensorimotor decline, affecting tapping irrespective of audio type. These findings underline the importance of customizing rhythm-based interventions to the needs of older adults and individuals with NCD, taking into consideration their cognitive as well as their rhythmic aptitudes.

Keywords: Aging, Alzheimer’s disease, auditory perception, dementia, music, neurodegenerative diseases

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-231433

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-15, 2024