Somatosensation Differences in Older Adults with and Without Diabetes, and by Age Group

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in somatosensation between older adults with and without type 2 diabetes among three age groups (60s, 70s, and 80s). We recruited 67 adults with type 2 diabetes and 67 age-matched adults without diabetes, aged 60–85. Data were collected using measures in Somatosensory Domain of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Toolbox. We found significant differences in the total scores of five tests examining kinesthesia, tactile sensation, and stereognosis among the three age groups. For all significant differences, the nondiabetes group and those in their 60s and 70s had better functioning than the diabetes group and those in their 80s. The NIH Toolbox-Somatosensory Tools used in this study may be more suitable to discriminate among age groups rather than diagnostic groups.

KEYWORDS :

• Diabetes mellitus
• diabetic neuropathy
• NIH toolbox
• older adults
• somatosensation

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in whole or in part by Federal funds from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health [HHS-N-260-2006-00007-C]. The NIH staff and the Principal Investigator of the NIH Toolbox Somatosensory Validation Project (WD) designed the study to include a diabetes diagnostic group.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

About the Authors

Young Joo Kim, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA; Joan C. Rogers, PhD, OTR/L, Professor Emerita, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Garrick Kwok, MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician, Spine and Orthopedic Center, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; Winifred Dunn, PhD, OTR/L, Professor, Department Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy Education, School of Allied Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Margo B. Holm, PhD, OTR/L, Professor Emerita, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.