Advances in Research on Motor Deficits Caused by Neurological Disorders: From Mechanism to Treatment

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1811

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
Interests: spinal cord injury; traumatic brain injury; motor deficits; postural asymmetry; monoamine neurotransmitters
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Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, ​DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
Interests: the mechanisms underlying the return of persistent inward current (pics) following spinal lesions–and its relation to development of hyper-reflexia (spasticity); sensory afferent control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Motor deficits specifically refer to the effect of the damage caused to motor skills or movement provoked by many neurological disorders and conditions. These disorders and conditions include, but are not limited to, traumatic brain injury, traumatic spinal cord injury, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and peripheral nerve injury. Neurological disorders are a predominant cause of mortality, constituting 12% of total deaths globally and consequently causing an enormous economic and social burden to  society. The symptoms of neurological disorders include a broad spectrum of motor problems, from the complete paralysis of a large part of the body to a slight weakness in the affected muscles. Such problems affect an individual’s functioning, result in disabilities or limitations to the activities they are able to carry out, and restrict their social activities. The aim of managing motor deficits is to improve the motor skills of affected individuals, eventually cure their symptoms, and ultimately bring individuals back to their normal lives. However, due to limited knowledge regarding the mechanisms that underlie these symptoms, effective treatments are lacking. Due to the complexity of injuries caused in different parts of the nervous system, plus the severity of these injuries, age, and injury type, it is a challenge to make a correct diagnosis and thus determine the correct treatment regimen. Therefore, in this Special Issue, we will focus on understanding the mechanisms that underlie these motor deficits using preclinical and clinical data. Studies applying data obtained using any related disease models are welcome. Research on new methods for the evaluation, assessment, and treatment of motor deficits in any specific neurological disorder is equally welcome. With the knowledge collected in this Special Issue, we hope to provide guidelines for the treatment or rehabilitation of patients suffering from certain types of neurological disorders that affect their motor functions.

Dr. Mengliang Zhang
Prof. Dr. Hans Hultborn
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • neurological disorders
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • brain injury
  • spinal cord injury
  • stroke
  • cerebral palsy
  • peripheral nerve injury
  • paralysis
  • spasticity
  • contracture
  • muscle weakness
  • postural asymmetry
  • gate pattern changes
  • uncontrolled movements

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 1658 KiB  
Article
Dual-Task Gait Analysis: Combined Cognitive–Motor Demands Most Severely Impact Walking Patterns and Joint Kinematics
by Nenad Nedović, Slavica Mutavdžin Krneta, Stevan Jovanović, Danilo Vujičić, Žiga Kozinc and Dmitry Skvortsov
Life 2025, 15(7), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071009 - 25 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Cognitive tasks significantly influence automated acts, such as walking. This study included 41 healthy individuals, who were over 65 years of age. We examined dual-task effects on the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait in older adults during four tasks carried out in [...] Read more.
Cognitive tasks significantly influence automated acts, such as walking. This study included 41 healthy individuals, who were over 65 years of age. We examined dual-task effects on the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait in older adults during four tasks carried out in single-task, cognitive, motor, and combined cognitive–motor conditions. An analysis of walking according to spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters was performed using an inertial movement analysis system. The combined task showed the most significant impairments, with substantially reduced gait speed (p < 0.001, r = −0.80), shorter stride length (p < 0.001, r = −0.82), and decreased hip flexion (p < 0.001, r = −0.80) compared to single-task walking. Cognitive tasks alone significantly affected gait speed (p = 0.001) and stride length (p = 0.001), while motor tasks showed minimal effects. The combined task also significantly increased double-support time (p < 0.001) and reduced single-support time (p = 0.001), indicating compensatory walking strategies. These findings demonstrate that concurrent cognitive–motor demands disproportionately impair gait, suggesting that clinical assessments should prioritize combined-task evaluation. The observed kinematic and spatiotemporal changes highlight the profound interdependence between cognitive function and automatic locomotor control during walking. It is likely that dual-task gait analysis may offer clinical utility for the early detection of cognitive–motor deficits. Full article
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16 pages, 1899 KiB  
Systematic Review
Enhancing Cardiovascular Autonomic Regulation in Parkinson’s Disease Through Non-Invasive Interventions
by Aastha Suthar, Ajmal Zemmar, Andrei Krassioukov and Alexander Ovechkin
Life 2025, 15(8), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081244 - 5 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) often involves autonomic dysfunction, most notably impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), which disrupts cardiovascular homeostasis and contributes to orthostatic hypotension (OH). Pharmacological and invasive treatments, including deep brain stimulation, have yielded inconsistent benefits and carry procedural risks, highlighting the need [...] Read more.
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) often involves autonomic dysfunction, most notably impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), which disrupts cardiovascular homeostasis and contributes to orthostatic hypotension (OH). Pharmacological and invasive treatments, including deep brain stimulation, have yielded inconsistent benefits and carry procedural risks, highlighting the need for safer, more accessible alternatives. In this systematic review, we evaluated non-invasive interventions—spanning somatosensory stimulation, exercise modalities, thermal therapies, and positional strategies—aimed at improving cardiovascular autonomic function in PD. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science for studies published between January 2014 and December 2024. Eight original studies (n = 8) including 205 participants met the inclusion criteria for analyzing cardiac sympathovagal balance. Results: Five studies demonstrated significant post-intervention increases in BRS. Most reported favorable shifts in heart rate variability (HRV) and favorable changes in the low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio. Across modalities, systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased by an average of 5%, and some interventions produced benefits that persisted up to 24 h. Conclusion: Although sample sizes were small and protocols heterogeneous, the collective findings support the potential of non-invasive neuromodulation to enhance BRS and overall cardiovascular regulation in PD. Future research should focus on standardized, higher-intensity or combined protocols with longer follow-up periods to establish durable, clinically meaningful improvements in autonomic function and quality of life for people living with PD. Full article
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