Hand Dexterity

Hand dexterity is a complex behavior highly relevant for activities of daily living (ADL) that declines through the course of normal aging and aggravates in pathological conditions such as in dementia. The ability to execute fine and accurate movements of upper limbs, hands and fingers is affected in aging by diseases of the skeletomuscular system, but also by brain integrity and the well-functioning of mental capacities. Our group seeks to better understand the nature of age-related dexterity decline and its connection to cognitive status by applying kinematic assessments on experimental environments. We furthermore relate dexterity information with structural MRI brain data in healthy older participants and in patients with mild cognitive impairment and/or early dementia. Our projects rely on 2D and 3D motion capture systems and neuropsychological assessments.