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When older adults develop problems with mobility or balance, abnormal peripheral nerve function is a common contributing factor. In this prospective study of 2148 older adults (age range, 70–79) who had no mobility problems at baseline, researchers assessed associations between lower-leg nerve dysfunction and later development of mobility disability. At baseline, 55% of participants had at least one abnormality on motor testing (peroneal nerve conduction) or sensory testing (vibration detection threshold or monofilament sensitivity of the large toe).
During median follow-up of 8.5 years, 30% of participants developed mobility disability (difficulty walking one quarter of a mile or climbing a flight of stairs). Peripheral nerve impairment at …