Influence of age and gender in the sensory nerve fibers excitability

Abstract Objectives To assess the influence of age and gender on sensory nerve axonal excitability parameters. Methods Thirty‐three healthy subjects (21 women) were included, with a mean age of 34.6 (range 21–76). Median sensory nerve excitability measurements (index finger) were performed using the TRONDNF nerve excitability protocol of the QTRAC program. Results Peak sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude was significantly higher among women (27.1 vs. 9.2 μV; p = .022), and strength–duration time constant (SDTC) was significantly higher in men (0.7 vs. 0.5; p = .011), not dependent on age. Greater age was negatively correlated with resting I/V slope, not dependent on gender (r = –0.4; p = .024). No other changes in excitability properties with increasing age were found. Conclusions Physiological features like as age and gender do not have a relevant impact on sensory nerve excitability measurements, which can have implications regarding pharmacological treatments.