Improving upper limb proprioception in older adults: Toward a better understanding of the behavioural and neural predictors and moderators.

In our rapidly aging society, functional independence of the older adults is a critical challenge for health and well-being with considerable socioeconomic consequences. In this regard, proprioception, referring to the ability to interpret our musculo-skeletal state (e.g., position, movement), is critically important for daily functioning. Here, I will investigate the structural brain predictors of proprioception in young and older adults, the extent to which neuromodulation and training improve proprioception, and whether improvements in proprioception transfer to bimanual coordination. The brain-behavioral approach applied here will provide a comprehensive picture of main predictors of proprioceptive accuracy across aging. Investing the effects of proprioceptive training on these brain structures will improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying proprioception. The training-related improvement of upper-limb proprioception per se, its potential optimisation through brain stimulation, and its potential impact on bimanual coordination will open new avenues for the rehabilitation of patients with impaired proprioception and will provide a foundation for strategic interventions to maintain functional independence across the lifespan.