scholarly journals The Effect of Different Types of Walking on Dual-Task Performance and Task Prioritization among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maayan Agmon ◽  
Einat Kodesh ◽  
Rachel Kizony
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Dual Task Performance ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Task Prioritization ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background. The ability to safely conduct different types of walking concurrently with a cognitive task (i.e., dual task) is crucial for daily life. The contribution of different walking types to dual-task performance has not yet been determined, nor is there agreement on the strategies that older adults use to divide their attention between two tasks (task prioritization).Objectives. To compare the effect of walking in three different directions (forward, backward, and sideways) on dual-task performance and to explore the strategies of older adults to allocate their attention in response to different motor task demands.Design. A cross-sectional study.Subjects. Thirty-two (22 female) community-dwelling older adults (aged72.7±5.7years).Methods. Subjects randomly conducted single and dual task: walking to three directions separately, cognitive tasks separately, and combination of the two.Results. Walking forward was the least demanding task, during single (FW < BW, SW) (P<.001) and dual tasks (FW < BW < SW) (P<.001). The calculation of DTC revealed the same pattern (P<.001). DTC of the cognitive tasks was not significantly different among the three walking types.Conclusions. The decline mainly in the motor performance during dual task indicates that participants prioritized the cognitive task. These findings challenge the “posture first” paradigm for task prioritization.

scholarly journals Neuroimaging, Behavioral, and Gait Correlates of Fall Profile in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystal M. Kirby ◽  
Sreekrishna Pillai ◽  
Robert M. Brouillette ◽  
Jeffrey N. Keller ◽  
Alyssa N. De Vito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Finger Tapping ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Dual Task Condition ◽  
Brain Functioning ◽  
Dual Task Performance

Prior research has suggested that measurements of brain functioning and performance on dual tasks (tasks which require simultaneous performance) are promising candidate predictors of fall risk among older adults. However, no prior study has investigated whether brain function measurements during dual task performance could improve prediction of fall risks and whether the type of subtasks used in the dual task paradigm affects the strength of the association between fall characteristics and dual task performance. In this study, 31 cognitively normal, community-dwelling older adults provided a self-reported fall profile (number of falls and fear of falling), completed a gait dual task (spell a word backward while walking on a GaitRite mat), and completed a supine dual task (rhythmic finger tapping with one hand while completing the AX continuous performance task (AX-CPT) with the other hand) during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Gait performance, AX-CPT reaction time and accuracy, finger tapping cadence, and brain functioning in finger-tapping-related and AX-CPT-related brain regions all showed declines in the dual task condition compared to the single task condition. Dual-task gait, AX-CPT and finger tapping performance, and brain functioning were all independent predictors of fall profile. No particular measurement domain stood out as being the most strongly associated measure with fall variables. Fall characteristics are determined by multiple factors; brain functioning, motor task, and cognitive task performance in challenging dual-task conditions all contribute to the risk of falling.

scholarly journals Effects of two 24-week multimodal exercise programs on reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance in community-dwelling older adults at risk of falling: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (S2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Rosado ◽  
Jorge Bravo ◽  
Armando Raimundo ◽  
Joana Carvalho ◽  
José Marmeleira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dual Task Performance ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background Falls in older adults are considered a major public health problem. Declines in cognitive and physical functions, as measured by parameters including reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance, have been reported to be important risk factors for falls. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two multimodal programs on reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance in community-dwelling older adults at risk of falling. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, fifty-one participants (75.4 ± 5.6 years) were allocated into two experimental groups (EGs) (with sessions 3 times per week for 24 weeks), and a control group: EG1 was enrolled in a psychomotor intervention program, EG2 was enrolled in a combined exercise program (psychomotor intervention program + whole-body vibration program), and the control group maintained their usual daily activities. The participants were assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and after a 12-week no-intervention follow-up period. Results The comparisons revealed significant improvements in mobility and dual-task performance after the intervention in EG1, while there were improvements in reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance in EG2 (p ≤ 0.05). The size of the interventions’ clinical effect was medium in EG1 and ranged from medium to large in EG2. The comparisons also showed a reduction in the fall rate in both EGs (EG1: -44.2%; EG2: − 63.0%, p ≤ 0.05) from baseline to post-intervention. The interventions’ effects on reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance were no longer evident after the 12-week no-intervention follow-up period. Conclusions The results suggest that multimodal psychomotor programs were well tolerated by community-dwelling older adults and were effective for fall prevention, as well as for the prevention of cognitive and physical functional decline, particularly if the programs are combined with whole-body vibration exercise. The discontinuation of these programs could lead to the fast reversal of the positive outcomes achieved. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03446352. Date of registration: February 07, 2018.

Dual task performance and history of falls in community-dwelling older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 120 ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Tomas-Carus ◽  
Clarissa Biehl-Printes ◽  
Catarina Pereira ◽  
Guida Veiga ◽  
Armando Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Dual Task Performance ◽  
History Of ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

scholarly journals Falls Risk and Simulated Driving Performance in Older Adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G. Gaspar ◽  
Mark B. Neider ◽  
Arthur F. Kramer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Driving Performance ◽  
Unexpected Events ◽  
Falls Risk ◽  
Simulated Driving ◽  
Dual Task Performance

Declines in executive function and dual-task performance have been related to falls in older adults, and recent research suggests that older adults at risk for falls also show impairments on real-world tasks, such as crossing a street. The present study examined whether falls risk was associated with driving performance in a high-fidelity simulator. Participants were classified as high or low falls risk using the Physiological Profile Assessment and completed a number of challenging simulated driving assessments in which they responded quickly to unexpected events. High falls risk drivers had slower response times (~2.1 seconds) to unexpected events compared to low falls risk drivers (~1.7 seconds). Furthermore, when asked to perform a concurrent cognitive task while driving, high falls risk drivers showed greater costs to secondary task performance than did low falls risk drivers, and low falls risk older adults also outperformed high falls risk older adults on a computer-based measure of dual-task performance. Our results suggest that attentional differences between high and low falls risk older adults extend to simulated driving performance.

scholarly journals Walking While Talking and Prefrontal Oxygenation in Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: Clinical and Pathophysiological Aspects

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Cristina Udina ◽  
Emmeline Ayers ◽  
Marco Inzitari ◽  
Joe Verghese
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Cognitive Risk ◽  
Dual Task Cost ◽  
Dual Task Performance

Background: Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) combines slow gait and cognitive complaints and has been proposed as a predementia syndrome. The nature of dual-task performance in MCR has not been established. Objective: To assess differences in dual-task performance between participants with and without MCR and to study the prefrontal cortex (PFC)-based brain activity during dual-task using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Methods: Cohort study of community-dwelling non-demented older adults included in the “Central Control of Mobility in Aging” study. Comprehensive assessment included global cognition and executive function tests along with clinical variables. Dual-task paradigm consisted in walking while reciting alternate letters of the alphabet (WWT) on an electronic walkway. We compared dual-task performance between MCR (n = 60) and No MCR (n = 478) participants and assessed the relationship of dual-task performance with cognitive function. In a subsample, we compared PFC oxygenation during WWT between MCR (n = 32) and No MCR (n = 293). Results: In our sample of 538 high-functioning older adults (76.6±6.5 years), with 11.2% prevalence of MCR, dual-task cost was not significantly different, compared to No MCR participants. Among MCR participants, no significant relationship was found between WWT velocity and cognitive function, whereas No MCR participants with better cognitive function showed faster WWT velocities. PFC oxygenation during WWT was higher in MCR compared to No MCR (1.02±1.25 versus 0.66±0.83, p = 0.03). Conclusion: MCR participants showed no significant differences in the dual-task cost while exhibiting higher PFC oxygenation during dual-task walking. The dual-task performance (WWT velocity) in MCR participants was not related to cognition.

scholarly journals Twelve-week multimodal programs can improve dual-task performance in risk factors for falls in community-dwelling older adults: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Rosado ◽  
J Bravo ◽  
A Raimundo ◽  
F Mendes ◽  
C Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Introduction Performing a dual-task (DT), mainly while walking and performing another task simultaneously, is seen as determinants factors for falls and injuries in older adults. A psychomotor intervention relying on the prevention of sensorimotor and neurocognitive deterioration may prevent falls. The whole-body vibration (WBV) promotes the increase of agility, reducing the risk of falling. However, an intervention that combines both methods can lead to additional benefits, particularly as regards DT. Objectives To evaluate the feasibility and the effect of two multimodal programs designed for community-dwelling older adults, fallers or at high risk of falling, on DT performance ability. Methodology Thirty-seven participants (74.3±5.2 years) were randomly assigned into experimental group 1 [EG1] (psychomotor intervention); or experimental group 2 [EG2] (psychomotor intervention + WBV). DT performance (TUGcog) was assessed by the Timed Up and Go Test (s) performed simultaneously with the counting backward cognitive task. Results Adherence rate was 86.3%. Wilcoxon test comparisons showed improvements from baseline to post-intervention on EG1 (time (s): 10.1±2.7 vs. 9.0±2.7, p = 0.001; cognitive stops (n): 0.9±1.0 vs. 0.2±0.4, p = 0.012; motor stops (n): 0.3±0.5 vs. 0.0±0.0, p = 0.025), corresponding to an effect size (cohen’s d) ranging from 0.41 (small) to 0.92 (medium) and on EG2 (time (s): 9.9±2.5 vs. 8.5±1.8, p = 0.010; cognitive stops (n): 1.1±0.7 vs. 0.4±0.5, p = 0.004), corresponding to a d ranging from 0.64 (medium) to 1.15 (medium). There were no significant differences between groups. Conclusion These preliminary results suggested that the multimodal programs were feasible and effective in reducing the risk of falling by improving the determinant risk factor DT performance. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03446352. Funding: This study was funded by ESACA Project (Grant ALT20-03-0145-FEDER-000007) and by FCT (SFRH/BD/147398/2019).

scholarly journals Testing the Limits of Optimizing Dual-Task Performance in Younger and Older Adults

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilo Strobach ◽  
Peter Frensch ◽  
Herrmann Josef Müller ◽  
Torsten Schubert
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Dual Task Performance
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