Determining corticospinal, corticoreticular, and reticulospinal responses to strength training in young and older adults

This thesis investigates the neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning age-related declines in muscle strength, with a particular focus on changes within the central nervous system. While sarcopenia plays a recognized role, emerging evidence implicates cortical and subcortical adaptations as key contributors to diminished motor output. Strength training mitigates these effects not solely by hypertrophic gains but by inducing plasticity across neural circuits responsible for voluntary movement. This work examines the relative involvement of descending motor pathways in older adults and identifies compensatory contributions from non-primary systems. The findings underscore the functional relevance of these alternative routes in preserving force generation with age and offer mechanistic insight for refining interventions aimed at sustaining motor performance and promoting healthy ageing.