Testing the influence of musical expertise on novel word learning across the lifespan using a cross-sectional approach in children, young adults and older adults

Background: Recent studies demonstrate improvements in both postural stability and mobility among aging populations and those with stroke who are exposed to dance-based exergaming (DBExG). However, age-related deficits and aging with cortical pathology may lead to distinct movement adaptation patterns during DBExG, which could impact therapeutic outcomes.Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the movement kinematics (postural stability and mobility) of healthy older adults, older adults with stroke, and young adults for different paces of dance during DBExG. Method: The study included 33 particpants (11 participant from each group of healthy older adults, older adults with chronic stroke, and healthy young adults) who performed the DBExG using slow- (SP), medium- (MP), and fast-paced (FP) songs with movements in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Center of mass (CoM) sway area, excursion (Ex), and peaks as well as hip, knee, and ankle joint excursions were computed. Results: Results of the study revealed that CoM sway areas and Exs were greater for healthy young adults than for older adults with stroke for the SP dance (p < 0.05) and that there were significantly more AP CoM peaks for young adults than for healthy older adults and those with stroke for the FP dance (p < 0.05). Young adults also exhibited greater hip and ankle Exs than older adults with stroke (p < 0.05) for all song paces. Similarly, knee and ankle Exs were greater for healthy older adults than for older adults with stroke for all song paces (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The quantitative evaluation and comparison of the movement patterns presented for the three groups could provide a foundation for both assessing and designing therapeutic DBExG protocols for these populations.

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Biomechanical Comparison of Countermovement Jumps Performed on Land and in Water: Age Effects

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2016-0225 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 249-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Talin Louder ◽

Dennis Dolny ◽

Eadric Bressel

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Mechanical Power ◽

Water Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medicine Research ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Using Data ◽

Kinematic Measures

Context:The aquatic environment provides a low-impact alternative to land-based exercise and rehabilitation in older adults.Objective:Evaluate the biomechanics of older adults and young adults performing jumping movements on land and in water.Design and Setting:Cross-sectional, mixed-factorial experiment; adjustable-depth pool at sports medicine research facility.Participants:Fifty-six young adults (age = 22.0 [3.9] y) and 12 healthy older adults (age = 57.3 [4.4] y).Interventions:Each participant performed 6 maximal effort countermovement jumps: 3 jumps were performed on land, and 3 other jumps were performed with participants immersed in chest-deep water.Main Outcome Measures:Using data from the amortization and propulsive phases of jumping, the authors computed the following kinetic and kinematic measures: peak and mean mechanical power, peak force, amortization time and rate, unweighting and propulsive times, and lower-extremity segment kinematics.Results:Mechanical power outputs were greater in younger adults (peak: 7322 [4035] W) versus older adults (peak: 5661.65 [2639.86] W) and for jumps performed in water (peak: 9387 [3981] W) versus on land (peak: 4545.84 [1356.53] W). Peak dorsiflexion velocities were greater for jumps performed in water (66 [34] deg/s) versus on land (4 [7] deg/s). The amortization rate was 26% greater in water versus on land. The amortization time was 20% longer in older adults versus young adults.Conclusions:Countermovement jumps performed in water are mechanically specific from those performed on land. Older adults jumped with longer unweighting times and increased mechanical power in water. These results suggest that aquatic-based exercise and rehabilitation programs that feature jumping movements may benefit older adults.

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Swimming as a Positive Moderator of Cognitive Aging: A Cross-Sectional Study with a Multitask Approach

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2012/273185 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Amira Abou-Dest ◽

Cédric T. Albinet ◽

Geoffroy Boucard ◽

Michel Audiffren

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Potential Benefits

This study examined whether regular swimming in older adults was related to better cognitive functioning and whether there were any global or selective positive effects of this physical activity (PA) on cognition. The cognitive performances of three groups of sixteen volunteer participants (young adults, sedentary older adults, and older adults who regularly practice swimming) were evaluated using a multitask approach. All participants performed a battery of ten tasks: two reaction time tasks assessing information processing speed and eight experimental tasks assessing three executive functions (EFs), (behavioral inhibition, working memory updating, and cognitive flexibility). The results showed that young adults performed significantly better than older adults on all examined cognitive functions. However, in older adults, regular swimming was related to better performance on the three EFs, but not on information processing speed. More precisely, five experimental tasks out of the eight tapping EFs were shown to be sensitive to positive effects from swimming practice. Finally, the demonstrated benefits of swimming on EFs were not necessarily linked to better cardiorespiratory fitness. The present findings illustrate the validity of using a multitask approach in examining the potential benefits of regular PA on cognitive aging.

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Relationship with Grandparents and Young Adults’ Attitudes About Aging and Future-Oriented Tendencies

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3260 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 883-883

Author(s):

Tianyuan Li ◽

Pok Man Siu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Online Survey ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Consideration Of Future Consequences ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Future Consequences

Abstract It is important but always challenging to restrain from immediate temptations and behave conscientiously for long-term goals. Constructive interactions with older adults may promote young adults’ positive attitudes about aging. With a brighter later adulthood in mind, young adults may then demonstrate a higher level of future-oriented tendency in their behaviors. The current study recruited 371 college students (Mage = 22.43, SDage = 2.88; 203 females) from Hong Kong. They completed an online survey about their interaction with the closest grandparent, attitudes about aging, and measures related to future-oriented tendencies (i.e., consideration of future consequences, healthy lifestyle, and impulsiveness). Parental intimacy and demographic information were assessed as potential covariates. Supporting the hypotheses, more interaction with grandparents was related to more positive attitudes about aging, β = .40, SE = .11, p < .001. More positive attitudes about aging was then related to more consideration of future consequences, β = .14, SE = .07, p = .03, healthier lifestyle, β = .16, SE = .06, p = .005, and less impulsivity, β = -.10, SE = .03, p < .001. Bootstrapping tests for the indirect effects from interaction with grandparents to the future-oriented outcomes through positive attitudes about aging were all significant as well. Although the current cross-sectional data could not confirm the causal links among the variables, the results provide some initial insight on how older adults can foster a long-term orientation in younger generations and contribute to the sustainable development of our societies through constructive intergenerational interactions.

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Muscle Activation and Distribution during Four Test/Functional Tasks: A Comparison between Dry-Land and Aquatic Environments for Healthy Older and Young Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17134696 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (13) ◽

pp. 4696

Author(s):

Ántonio Cuesta-Vargas ◽

Jaime Martín-Martín ◽

David Pérez-Cruzado ◽

Carlos L. Cano-Herrera ◽

Javier Güeita Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Gait Initiation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dry Land ◽

The Stability ◽

Methods Analytical

Background: The use of rehabilitation protocols carried out in water has been progressively increasing due to the favorable physical properties of the water. Electromyography allows one to register muscle activity even under water. Aim: To compare muscle activity between two groups (healthy young adults (HYA) and healthy older adults (HOA)) in two different environments (dry land and aquatic) using surface electromyography during the execution of four different test/functional movements. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. HYA and HOA carried out four functional tasks (Step Up and Down, Sit TO Stand test, Gait Initiation and Turns During Gait) in two different environments (dry land and aquatic). Absolute and relative muscle activation was compared between each group and between each environment. In addition, the stability of the measured was calculated through a test-retest (ICC 2:1). Results: Within the same environment there were significant differences between young and older adults in three of the four functional tasks. In contrast, in the gait initiation, hardly any significant differences were found between the two groups analysed, except for the soleus and the anterior tibial. Measurement stability ranged from good to excellent. Conclusions: Level of the musculature involvement presents an entirely different distribution when the test/functional task is performed on dry land or in water. There are differences both in the relative activation of the musculature and in the distribution of the partition of the muscles comparing older and young adults within the same environment.

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How Does Explicit Prioritization Alter Walking During Dual-Task Performance? Effects of Age and Sex on Gait Speed and Variability

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20090043 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 177-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 164

Author(s):

Galit Yogev-Seligmann ◽

Yael Rotem-Galili ◽

Anat Mirelman ◽

Ruth Dickstein ◽

Nir Giladi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Dual Task ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Gait Variability ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Task Conditions

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated that the performance of a secondary task during walking alters gait.ObjectiveThis study investigated the effects of task prioritization on walking in young and older adults to evaluate the “default” prioritization scheme used, the flexibility to alter prioritization and cortical resources allocated to gait and a secondary cognitive task, and any age-associated changes in these abilities.DesignA cross-sectional study that explicitly altered the focus of attention was used to investigate the effects of prioritization in young and older adults who were healthy.MethodsGait speed and gait variability were evaluated in young adults (n=40) and older adults (n=17) who were healthy, both during usual walking and under 3 dual-task conditions: (1) no specific prioritization instructions, (2) prioritization of gait, and (3) prioritization of the cognitive task.ResultsYoung adults significantly increased gait speed in the gait prioritization condition compared with gait speed in the no-instruction condition; a similar tendency was seen in the older adults. Gait speed was reduced when priority was given to the cognitive task in both age groups; however, this effect was less dramatic in the older adults. In the young adults, prioritization of gait tended to have different effects on gait speed among both men and women. In the older adults, but not in the young adults, all dual-task conditions produced increased gait variability, whereas prioritization did not alter this gait feature.LimitationsThe sample size and the relative homogeneity of the older adults could be considered as possible limitations of the study.ConclusionsEven among young adults, the effects of secondary, cognitive tasks on gait speed are strongly influenced by prioritization. This finding was less significant in the older adults, suggesting that there is an age-associated decline in the ability to flexibly allocate attention to gait. Somewhat surprisingly, when prioritization was not explicitly instructed, gait speed in both young and older adults most closely resembled that of the condition when they were instructed to focus attention on the cognitive task.

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Novel word learning in older adults: A role for sleep?

Brain and Language ◽

10.1016/j.bandl.2016.05.010 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 167 ◽

pp. 106-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Laura B.F. Kurdziel ◽

Janna Mantua ◽

Rebecca M.C. Spencer

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Word Learning ◽

Novel Word Learning

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A-46 Impairments in Memory for “Who”, “When”, and “Where” are Detectable in Middle-Aged Adults

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology ◽

10.1093/arclin/acz034.46 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

pp. 905-905

Author(s):

A Mustafa ◽

I Beltran-Najera ◽

P Gilbert ◽

L Graves ◽

H Holden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Test Performance ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Correct Sequence ◽

Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Objective We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine age-¬related differences in performance on a new test assessing memory for “who, when, and where” and associations among these elements. The test was designed to assess aspects of episodic memory by simulating an everyday experience of meeting a series of different people in different places across time. Method Healthy young (ages 18¬-25), middle-aged (ages 40-55), and older adults (ages 60+) were asked to remember a sequence of pictures of different faces paired with different places. After viewing the sequence, the participants were asked to pair each face with the correct place and put the face-place pairs in the correct sequence. Participants also completed a battery of standardized neuropsychological tests. Results Young adults remembered significantly more face-place pairs in the correct sequence than middle-aged (p < .05) and older adults (p < .05). There were no significant differences between middle-aged and older adults in the number of face-place pairs in correct sequence. Furthermore, young adults remembered significantly more face-place pairs irrespective of sequence than older adults (p < .05). There were no significant differences between young and middle-aged adults or between middle-aged and older adults in the number of correct face-place pairs irrespective of sequence. Conclusions Using a new test that incorporates aspects of episodic memory, we found evidence for age-related differences in test performance beginning in middle age. We found that performance on the test correlated with performance on standardized measures of verbal memory and executive functioning but not visual confrontation naming.

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Achilles Tendon Loading is Lower in Older Adults Than Young Adults Across a Broad Range of Walking Speeds

10.31236/osf.io/7r29z ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Anahid Ebrahimi ◽

Isaac F. Loegering ◽

Jack A. Martin ◽

Robin L. Pomeroy ◽

Joshua Daniel Roth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Wave Speed ◽

Age Groups ◽

Force Plate ◽

Tendon Injury ◽

Moderate Increase ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related

The purpose of this study was to investigate age-related differences in Achilles tendon loading during gait. Fourteen young (7F/7M, 26 ± 5 years) and older (7F/7M, 67 ± 5 years) adults without current neurological or orthopaedic impairment participated. Shear wave tensiometry was used to measure tendon stress by tracking Achilles tendon wave speed. The wave speed-stress relationship was calibrated using simultaneously collected tensiometer and force plate measures during a standing sway task. Tendon stress was computed from the force plate measures using subject-specific ultrasound measures of tendon moment arm and cross-sectional area. All subjects exhibited a highly linear relationship between wave speed squared and tendon stress (mean R2>0.9), with no significant age-group differences in tensiometer calibration parameters. Tendon wave speed was monitored during treadmill walking at four speeds (0.75, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.50 m/s) and used to compute the stress experienced by the tendon. Relative to young adults, older adults exhibited 22% lower peak tendon wave speeds. Peak tendon stress during push-off in older adults (24.8 MPa) was 32% less than that in the young adults (36.7 MPa) (p = 0.01). There was a moderate increase (+11%) in peak tendon stress across both groups when increasing speed from 0.75 to 1.50 m/s (main effect of speed, p = 0.01). Peak tendon loading during late swing did not differ between age groups (mean 3.8 MPa in young and 4.2 MPa in older adults). These age-related alterations in tendon tissue loading may affect the mechanobiological stimuli underlying tissue remodeling and thereby alter the propensity for tendon injury and disease.

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