1. Changes in gait and postural control after 10-day bed rest and 30-day recovery : Elektronski virLuka Šlosar, Manca Peskar, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Marco Vincenzo Narici, Uroš Marušič, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background Prolonged bed rest is a well-established model for studying the effects of immobility on functional performance, especially gait and postural control. Understanding how these functions deteriorate and recover across age groups is essential for developing targeted rehabilitation strategies. Research question How does a 10-day horizontal bed rest affect gait performance and postural control in young and older adults, and to what extent do these effects differ by age? Methods Following a multistage screening process from a large pool of healthy male volunteers, ten older men (68.5 ± 2.6 years) and ten young men (22.9 ± 4.7 years) completed 10 days of horizontal bed rest in a controlled laboratory setting, followed by a standardized 30-day recovery program. Postural control and gait speed assessed under self-selected and brisk walking conditions were measured before bed rest, immediately after, and following a 30-day recovery program. Results Following bed rest, self-selected walking speed did not differ significantly from baseline in either group. In contrast, brisk walking speed significantly decreased in older (−11.4%, p < 0.05) and young adults (−9.9%, p < 0.05), with both groups returning to baseline values after recovery. Postural control deteriorated significantly in older adults (-15.5%), whereas no significant difference from baseline was observed in young adults. After baseline adjustment, postural control showed a significant group effect both after bed rest (η² > 0.244) and post-recovery (η² > 0.395). Significance The findings reveal clear age-related differences in responses to inactivity and recovery. Older adults experienced greater impairments and slower restoration of balance, indicating heightened vulnerability to functional decline during periods of immobilization. These findings underscore the age-dependent impact of bed rest and the importance of tailored rehabilitation strategies.
Ključne besede: aging, physical inactivity, mobile body imaging, functional decline
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 24.04.2026; Ogledov: 125; Prenosov: 106
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3. Mental - and temporal - demand NASA - task load Index scores correlate with decreases in irisin serum levels in healthy individuals subjected to 10-day bed restPatrizia Pignataro, Uroš Marušič, Roberta Zerlotin, Angela Oranger, Manuela Dicarlo, Clelia Suriano, Paolo Taurisano, Rado Pišot, Boštjan Šimunič, Marco Vincenzo Narici, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background Bed rest (BR) is a widely used analogue of space flight that aims to replicate microgravity conditions, such as immobilization and a lack of sensorimotor stimuli. In a previous BR study, we evaluated the changes in irisin serum levels, a myokine produced mainly by skeletal muscle that exerts pleiotropic effects on several organs, including the brain. Objective Here, we evaluated whether the decline in circulating irisin concentrations during 10 days of horizontal BR correlated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Methods NASA-TLX was obtained from young healthy participants at the end of the BR protocol. It is a self-report measure of task load that includes six subscales: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration. Each subscale score was correlated with the decline in serum irisin levels measured while participants were supine. Irisin decline was calculated as the difference between levels on the first day of BR (BR0) and the last day (BR9). Results Our results show a significant positive correlation between irisin decline and both mental demand and temporal demand, whereas correlations with the remaining subscales showed a positive association with irisin decline but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion These findings suggest that reduced irisin levels are associated with increased perceived mental demand and time pressure (temporal demand) during BR. Because temporal demand can exacerbate high mental activity in a state of cognitive overload, maintaining higher circulating irisin levels could represent an effective countermeasure to improve the cognitive performance of participants during future BR studies and may help astronauts manage mental and temporal pressure during space missions.
Ključne besede: bed rest, microgravity, irisin, cognitive performance, NASA-TLX indeks
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 09.04.2026; Ogledov: 134; Prenosov: 83
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4. Variability in spatial and temporal gait dynamics during aging : a narrative review on the role of the neural systemChristoph Centner, Ramona Ritzmann, Uroš Marušič, Luke Hughes, 2026, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Gait dynamics, encompassing both spatial and temporal parameters, undergo significant changes with aging, often leading to increased gait variability and, consequentially, a higher risk of falls. While cognitive and musculoskeletal factors have been demonstrated to contribute to these alterations, the role of the neural system is crucial and yet not fully understood. This review aims to synthesize the existing evidence on the age-related deterioration in locomotor functioning, with a specific emphasis on the neural mechanisms involved. Besides summarizing appropriate measures to quantify gait variability, several neural factors including cortical, neurotransmitter, and sensory system degeneration, are explored as key contributors to the observed changes in locomotion during aging. Additionally, the review discusses the potential use of diverse interventions to enhance gait variability during aging to reduce the risk of falls. By elucidating the complex interplay between aging, gait dynamics, and neural function, this review underscores the importance of targeted interventions aimed at preserving neural health to maintain gait stability and reduce fall risk in the aging population. The findings suggest that further research is needed to develop and refine strategies for the early detection and prevention of gait-related impairments linked to neural decline.
Ključne besede: gait, variability, aging, motor control
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6. The interplay of brain neurotransmission and mental fatigue : a research protocolY. L. Arenales Arauz, J. Habay, Tjaša Ocvirk, Ana Mali, Suzanna Russell, Uroš Marušič, Kevin De Pauw, Bart Roelands, 2024, drugi znanstveni članki Povzetek: Introduction Mental fatigue (MF) significantly affects both cognitive and physical performance. However, the precise mechanisms, particularly concerning neurotransmission, require further investigation. An implication of the role of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) is stated, but empirical evidence for this theory still needs to be provided. To address this gap, we aim to investigate the role of brain neurotransmission in elucidating if, and how prolonged cognitive activity induces MF and its subsequent impact on cognitive performance. Methods This study (registration number: G095422N) will adopt a randomized cross-over design with sixteen healthy participants aged 18–35 years. The sessions include a familiarization, two experimental (DA: 20mg Methylphenidate; NA: 8mg Reboxetine) conditions, and one placebo (lactose tablet: 10mg) condition. A 60-minute individualized Stroop task will be used to investigate whether, and how the onset of MF changes under the influence of reuptake inhibitors. Attention and response inhibition will be assessed before and after the MF-inducing task using a Go/NoGo task. The integration of physiological (electroencephalography, heart rate), behavioral (attention, response inhibition), and subjective indicators (scales and questionnaires) will be used to detect the underlying mechanisms holistically. Data analysis will involve linear mixed models with significance at p<0.05. Discussion The integration of diverse techniques and analyses offers a comprehensive perspective on the onset and impact of MF, introducing a novel approach. Future research plans involve extending this protocol to explore the connection between brain neurotransmission and physical fatigue. This protocol will further advance our understanding of the complex interplay between the brain and fatigue.
Ključne besede: mental fatigue, neurotransmission, cognitive performance, dopamine, noradrenaline, electroencephalography (EEG)
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7. Distinct roles of dopamine and noradrenaline in physical fatigueY. L. Arenales Arauz, Ana Mali, Elke Lathouwers, J. Habay, Leonardo de Sousa Fortes, Romain Meeusen, Uroš Marušič, Kevin De Pauw, Bart Roelands, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: This triple‐blinded randomized crossover study investigated the roles of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) in regulatingexercise performance and fatigue using acute pharmacological manipulation. Eighteen healthy adults (9 males and 9 females;mean age = 23.4 ± 2.2 years) completed three experimental conditions. Participants ingested methylphenidate (MPH; 20 mg;primarily enhancing DA signaling), reboxetine (REB; 8 mg; selectively enhancing NA signaling), or placebo (10 mg lactose) prior toperforming dynamic leg extensions until exhaustion. Behavioral, subjective, and physiological responses were assessed to evaluatedrug‐specific effects using (generalized) linear mixed‐effects models. The fatiguing task effectively induced exhaustion in allconditions, evidenced by increases in self‐reported fatigue and exertion, heart rate, and blood lactate levels. MPH did not signif-icantly improve the number of leg extension repetitions (+3.1%, p = 0.23) or perceived exertion ratings. Perceived performance andvigor increased, while sleepiness decreased across pretask and posttask assessments. Posttask temporal demand and overall taskload were also reduced. In contrast, REB significantly reduced the number of leg extension repetitions (−13.2%, p < 0.001) withoutaltering perceived exertion, mood, or performance perception. These findings show that DA and NA systems differently affectfatigue regulation. DA mainly influences cognitive and perceptual aspects, improving alertness and mood without significantlyenhancing physical performance. In contrast, NA reduced physical performance without altering fatigue perception, indicating adissociation between subjective fatigue and actual capacity. This study provides new evidence on how DA and NA shape bothperformance and perception during fatiguing leg‐extension exercise in males and females.Trial Registration: G095422N and identifier NCT05880342
Ključne besede: dopamine, noradrenaline, exercise, fatigue, performance, perceived exertion
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 10.02.2026; Ogledov: 587; Prenosov: 369
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8. Prevalenca sarkopenije in povezani dejavniki tveganja v Sloveniji : raziskovalni podatki, obravnavani v doktorskem deluKatarina Puš, Miloš Kalc, Saša Pišot, Kaja Teraž, Jure Urbanc, Matej Kleva, Uroš Marušič, Manca Peskar, Luka Šlosar, Boštjan Šimunič, 2026, zaključena znanstvena zbirka raziskovalnih podatkov Povzetek: Podatkovni niz vsebuje anonimizirane presečne podatke, zbrane pri 654 starejših odraslih (≥ 60 let) iz Slovenije. Podatki so bili pridobljeni v okviru presečne raziskave, usmerjene v razvrščanje sarkopenije in analizo mišičnih značilnosti. V podatkovni niz so vključeni demografski podatki (starost, spol), antropometrične meritve ter rezultati meritev mišične jakosti, telesne zmogljivosti in telesne sestave. Mišična jakost je bila ocenjena z merjenjem jakosti stiska pesti in testom petkratnega vstajanja s stola. Telesna zmogljivost je bila ocenjena s hitrostjo hoje in testom vstani in pojdi. Podatki o telesni sestavi in mišični masi so bili pridobljeni z električno bioimpedančno analizo in vključujejo pusto telesno maso, skeletno mišično maso, apendikularno skeletno mišično maso ter indekse, prilagojene telesni višini. Kontraktilne lastnosti skeletnih mišic so bile ocenjene s tenziomiografijo treh mišic spodnjih okončin, pri čemer so bili zabeleženi parametri zakasnitvenega časa, časa kontrakcije, radialnega premika in hitrosti kontrakcije. Dodatni podatki vključujejo prehransko stanje (Mini Nutritional Assessment), gibalno aktivnost in sedentarne navade (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) ter kognitivne funkcije (Test povezovanja – del A in B). Preiskovanci so bili razvrščeni v skupine glede na več diagnostičnih algoritmov sarkopenije (EWGSOP, EWGSOP2 in njegove različice, SDOC, IWGS in FNIH). Podatki so bili zbrani po standardiziranih protokolih, anonimizirani in opremljeni z metapodatki, kar omogoča njihovo ponovno uporabo v skladu z načeli FAIR.
Ključne besede: sarkopenija, analiza mišičnih značilnost, mišična jakost, telesna sestava, telesna zmogljivost, telesna masa, gibalna aktivnost, sedentarne navade
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 03.02.2026; Ogledov: 375; Prenosov: 307
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9. The dynamics of neuromuscular resilience across the lifespan : ageing, disuse and interventionChristoph Centner, Ramona Ritzmann, Uroš Marušič, Luke Hughes, 2025, drugi znanstveni članki Ključne besede: neuromuscular system, biological ageing, chronic disease, physical inactivity
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.12.2025; Ogledov: 632; Prenosov: 270
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10. Continuous intergenerational play for neuroplasticity : the NeuroPlay ProjectRado Pišot, Uroš Marušič, 2025, drugi sestavni deli Povzetek: This case study compared the acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on vascular and microva-scular function in a healthy male subject (age: 34 yrs; body mass index: 25.82 kg/m2). Key vascular parameters were assessed, including augmentation index (AIx), ca-rotid-femoral and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, baPWV), flow-mediated slowing (FMS%), and tissue saturation index (TSI) recovery slope. HIIT induced a greater reduction in baPWV (mean difference [MD]: 0.9 m/s) and a higher increase in FMS% (MD: 8%) compared to MICT, indicating more favourable changes in periphe-ral arterial stiffness and endothelial function. Additionally, the reoxygenation slope for TSI was more pronounced after HIIT, suggesting improved microvascular recove-ry. Interestingly, AIx increased following MICT (MD from baseline: 11%) but slightly decreased after HIIT (MD from baseline: −5%). These findings suggest that exercise intensity plays a critical role in determining vascular adaptations, with HIIT showing superior acute benefits
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 10.09.2025; Ogledov: 552; Prenosov: 284
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