What evidence indicates that older adults have difficulty using sensory feedback for reaching?

Older adults often exhibit slower movements when reaching, which can be attributed to difficulties in processing sensory feedback. As individuals age, their proprioceptive and vestibular senses—critical for sensing body position and balance—can decline. This decline affects the ability to integrate sensory information effectively, leading to a slower response time when attempting to reach for objects.

The slower movements reflect this challenge, as older adults may take more time to ensure their actions are accurate due to decreased sensory feedback efficiency. This is supported by research showing that older adults require more time to adjust their movements compared to younger individuals, particularly when visual or tactile information is involved in their interaction with the environment.