Age-related decrease in sensitivity to electrical stimulation is unrelated to skin conductance: An evoked potentials study

• Findings regarding the effect of age on electrical somatosensorial thresholds lack consistency.
• Dry skin, common in older adults, may account for these discrepancies.
• Age-related decreases in electrical somatosensory perception cannot be attributed to lowered skin hydration in the elderly.

ObjectiveWith aging, skin is likely to become less hydrated, thereby increasing its resistance to electrical current. This, rather than sensorial/perceptual differences per se, may be the primary cause of differences between younger and older adults in somatosensorial perception in response to electrical stimuli.MethodsTo assess whether aging alters the perception of electrical stimulation, we compared the perceived intensity of electrical stimuli in younger and older subjects, considering both setpoint intensities and the actual intensities of the current passing through subjects’ skin. This resulted in reliable information about electrical somatosensory perception in both groups at equivalent received amounts of current. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) enabled the objective evaluation of somatosensitivity in both groups.ResultsAt equivalent received intensities, the mean ratings were significantly lower in older than in younger subjects. SEPs confirmed these results, with older adults having longer latencies and reduced amplitudes.ConclusionsOur results suggest that age-related decreases in somatosensitivity to electrical stimuli are not due to cutaneous physiological changes.SignificanceAge-related increases in electrical somatosensorial and pain thresholds seem to be more attributable to dysfunctions of the peripheral and/or central nervous system, than to non-optimal activation of somatosensorial receptors/nerve fibers due to cutaneous physiological changes.