scholarly journals Multitasking in Older Adults’ Daily Activities: A Preliminary Investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 714-714
Author(s):  
Abigail Stephan ◽  
Junyan Tian ◽  
Lesley Ross
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Performance Expectations ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging

Abstract The ability to multitask, defined as conducting two or more activities simultaneously, is important in daily life. The majority of prior work has examined multitasking in laboratory settings. However, less is known about how multitasking in daily activities is related to older adults’ executive functioning and perceptions of aging. The current study investigated these relationships in a sample of 33 older adults aged 65-81 (M=70.0, SD=3.6). Participants were asked to describe activities they did each day and estimate time spent in each activity across fourteen days; multiple activities reported in the same time frame were considered multitasking. Executive function was measured at baseline using the Trail Making Test Part B (TMTB), with higher scores indicating worse performance. Expectations regarding aging were measured at baseline using the Expectations Regarding Aging (ERA-12) survey, with higher scores indicating more positive perceptions. Twenty-seven participants (81.82%) reported at least one instance of multitasking in the fourteen-day period. Participants were divided into three groups based on the median number of reported multitasks: no multitasking (n=6), low multitasking (≤4; n=15), and high multitasking (>4; n=12). Although there were no significant differences within the ANOVA, participants who reported low multitasking trended towards poorer executive function and more positive expectations of aging (M_TMTB=100.28, M_ERA= 64.88) than both no multitasking (M_TMTB=82.12, M_ERA=50.46) and high multitasking groups (M_TMTB=94.90, M_ERA= 54.29). Additional research should investigate these possible relationships in larger samples and explore how covariates, such as gender and age, may moderate possible relationships.

scholarly journals Effects of dance on cognitive function in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Hewston ◽  
Courtney Clare Kennedy ◽  
Sayem Borhan ◽  
Dafna Merom ◽  
Pasqualina Santaguida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Optimal Dose ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Trail Making Test ◽  
Global Cognitive Function ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Complex Attention

Abstract Background dance is a mind–body activity that stimulates neuroplasticity. We explored the effect of dance on cognitive function in older adults. Methods we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and PsycInfo databases from inception to August 2020 (PROSPERO:CRD42017057138). Inclusion criteria were (i) randomised controlled trials (ii) older adults (aged ≥ 55 years), (iii) intervention—dance and (iv) outcome—cognitive function. Cognitive domains were classified with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 Neurocognitive Framework. Meta-analyses were performed in RevMan5.3 and certainty of evidence with GradePro. Results we reviewed 3,997 records and included 11 studies (N = 1,412 participants). Seven studies included only healthy older adults and four included those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Dance interventions varied in frequency (1–3×/week), time (35–60 minutes), duration (3–12 months) and type. We found a mean difference (MD) = 1.58 (95% confidence interval [CI) = 0.21–2.95) on the Mini Mental State Examination for global cognitive function (moderate-certainty evidence), and the Wechsler Memory Test for learning and memory had an MD = 3.02 (95% CI = 1.38–4.65; low-certainty evidence). On the Trail Making Test-A for complex attention, MD = 3.07 (95% CI = −0.81 to 6.95; high-certainty evidence) and on the Trail Making Test-B for executive function, MD = −4.12 (95% CI = −21.28 to 13.03; moderate-certainty evidence). Subgroup analyses did not suggest consistently greater effects in older adults with MCI. Evidence is uncertain for language, and no studies evaluated social cognition or perceptual–motor function. Conclusions dance probably improves global cognitive function and executive function. However, there is little difference in complex attention, and evidence also suggests little effect on learning and memory. Future research is needed to determine the optimal dose and if dance results in greater cognitive benefits than other types of physical activity and exercise.

Preliminary Investigation of Executive Functions in Elite Ice Hockey Players

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Lundgren ◽  
Lennart Högman ◽  
Markus Näslund ◽  
Thomas Parling
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Elite Level ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Design Fluency ◽  
Sample Score

Elite level ice hockey places high demands on player’s physical and technical attributes as well as on cognitive and executive functions. There is, however, a notable lack of research on these attributes and functions. The present study investigated executive function with selected tests from the D-KEFS test battery among 48 ice hockey players and compared them to a standardized sample. Results show that ice hockey players’ scores were significantly higher on Design Fluency (DF) compared with the standardized sample score. Elite players’ scores were not significantly higher than those of lower-league hockey players. A significant correlation was found between on-ice performance and Trail Making Test (TMT) scores. Exploratory analysis showed that elite-level center forwards scored significantly higher on DF than did players in other positions. Future research should investigate whether assessment of executive function should be taken into account, in addition to physical and technical skills, when scouting for the next ice hockey star.

scholarly journals A-163 APOE ε4 Alters Self-Awareness of Executive Function in Cognitively Intact Middle Aged and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 957-957
Author(s):  
Evans S ◽  
Paitel E ◽  
Gregg T ◽  
Ballard Z ◽  
Otteman C ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Cognitively Intact

Abstract Objective Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) may be an early indicator of future cognitive decline. Although early executive function (EF) decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be a sensitive predictor, the predicative utility of SCCs specific to EF is unknown. Thus, this study examined whether EF performance predicts SCCs of EF in healthy, well-educated middle aged and older adults, and whether carrying of APOE ε4 alters that prediction. Method Fifty-five cognitively intact middle aged to older adults (Mage = 64.1, range = 48–84, 19 e4+) completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) Executive Dysfunction Scale (EXECDYS) to measure SCCs and an EF battery (Trail-making A&B, Symbol-digit Modalities Test, verbal fluency (letter, category), which principal components analysis (varimax rotation) reduced to a single EF factor. We examined whether SCCs (EXECDYS) were predicted by EF performance (age, depression covaried), and whether ε4 moderated that prediction (PROCESS 3.0). Results The model was significant (R2 = 0.31; p = 0.002), with a significant EXECDYS X ε4 interaction (ß = 4.24, t(55) = 2.37; p = .02), indicating that EF performance predicted EXECDYS, but in ε4-carriers only, those with poorer EF were less aware of that dysfunction. Conclusions Amongst APOE ε4-carriers, a group with high risk for AD, those with poorer EF had less accurate self-awareness of their EF, suggesting earlier formal assessment is needed in ε4-carriers to detect decline. Furthermore, as our study examined healthy, well-educated, cognitively intact adults from middle age, these findings suggest ε4-carriers are at particularly high risk for AD if their self-awareness and performance of EF are both low. Combining EF assessment with self-appraisal of EF may aid AD diagnostics.

scholarly journals A-014 Positive, but not negative, self-perceptions of aging predict cognitive function in older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 804-804
Author(s):  
Brown K ◽  
Mccarrey A
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Aging Process ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Neuropsychological Battery ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Multidimensional Measure ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging

Abstract Objective Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) refer to expectations and attitudes about one’s aging process and are robustly linked to physical health and longevity outcomes. How SPA correlates with cognitive function in older adulthood is less well known. Thus, the present study sought to examine how a multidimensional measure of SPA correlated with older adult’s performance on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Method 136 community-dwelling older adults (Mage = 70.18, SDage = 5.79 years) from Southeast Idaho were administered a multidimensional measure of SPA; The Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ). This 17-item questionnaire requires participants to rate their agreement with positive and negative statements concerning their aging process. Participants were also administered a demographics form and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery that included measures of memory, attention and executive function. Results Both positive and negative subscales of the B-APQ were correlated with various aspects of cognitive function. After controlling for age, sex and education, regression analyses revealed that positive subscales of the B-APQ predicted mental status (β = .19, p < .05), short-delay memory (β = .16, p < .05), processing speed (β = −.21, p < .05) and two measures of executive function (β = −.21, p < .01; β = .18, p < .05). The negative subscales of the B-APQ were not predictive of any cognitive domain. Conclusion This is the first study to demonstrate that independent of selected sociodemographic factors, positive, but not negative dimensions of SPA relate to a wide range of cognitive abilities in older adulthood. We discuss our results in terms of positive psychology and the potential for interventions to improve cognitive function in older adults.

scholarly journals CAN COGNITIVE TRAINING USING A TABLET COMPUTER ENHANCE COGNITIVE FUNCTION OF HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS? AN ALTERNATING-TREATMENT DESIGN

2021 ◽  
pp. 2140044
Author(s):  
JIN-HYUCK PARK
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Intervention ◽  
Tablet Computer ◽  
Trail Making Test ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Alternating Treatment Design ◽  
Treatment Design ◽  
Productive Engagement

Even though a variety of cognitive interventions have been conducted to ameliorate age-related cognitive declines, the effects of cognitive intervention using activities in everyday life are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects between tablet computer-based productive and receptive cognitive engagement using an alternating-treatment design. Three healthy older adults performed a total of 19 sessions consisting of three baseline periods and 16 alternating training sessions. The training sessions were divided into four blocks and each block involved four treatment sessions. Productive and receptive engagements were randomly allocated to four treatment sessions. All participants alternatively received productive engagement that requires learning new practical applications and receptive engagement requiring little new learning such as listening to music. Prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy and executive function through the Trail Making Test were assessed at the baseline and the end of each session. All data were visually analyzed. Visual analysis results showed that the productive engagement was associated with higher PFC activity and faster performance in the Trail Making Test, compared to those utilizing receptive engagement. These results suggest that productive engagement might be effective in facilitating PFC activity and improving the executive function of healthy older adults, indicating cognitively challenging activities are more beneficial relative to nonchallenging activities.

Age Predicts Older Adults’ Driving Self-Regulation but Not Dangerous Driving Behaviors after Controlling for Executive Function

Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
John P.K. Bernstein ◽  
Nora Mattek ◽  
Katherine E. Dorociak ◽  
Zachary T. Beattie ◽  
Jeffrey A. Kaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Driving Frequency ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Driving Behaviors ◽  
Dangerous Driving

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of the study was to examine the unique contributions of age to objectively measure driving frequency and dangerous driving behaviors in healthy older adults after adjusting for executive function (EF). <b><i>Method:</i></b> A total of 28 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 82.0 years, standard deviation [SD] = 7.5) without dementia who were in good physical health and enrolled in a longitudinal aging study completed several EF and clinical self-report measures at baseline. Participants subsequently had a sensor installed in their vehicle for a mean of 208 (SD = 38, range = 127–257) days. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Participants drove for an average of 54 min per day. Mixed-effects models indicated that after controlling for EF, older age was associated with less time driving per day, decreased number of trips, and less nighttime driving. Age was not associated with hard brakes or hard accelerations. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> After accounting for EF, greater age is associated with higher driving self-regulation but not dangerous driving behaviors in healthy older adults. Future studies should recruit larger samples and collect sensor-measured driving data over a more extended time frame to better determine how and why these self-regulation changes take place.

Computed Tomography (CT) Attenuation Value in Relation with Body Dimension, Gender and Age in Malay population: A Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Siti Aisyah Munirah Bohang ◽  
Zainul Ibrahim Zainuddin ◽  
Norhanna Suhoimi
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Body Dimension ◽  
Attenuation Value ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Ct Attenuation ◽  
Malay Population ◽  
Ct Attenuation Value

Interaction of CT’s x-ray beams with patient resulted in attenuation process and there are various factors affecting CT attenuation values. The aim of this review is to examine the existed literatures regarding the concept of attenuation in CT and its relationship with body dimension, gender and age in Malay population. Guided by primary question, literature searches were conducted using the established online database; SCOPUS and PubMed. The time frame for literatures was from 2000 to 2019 and only literatures in English language were selected. The size of body dimension has affected the CT attenuation value but it also depending on the type of tissue presence within the region of interest (ROI) such as muscle and fat tissues. Due to larger body framework and higher amount of skeletal muscle mass theoretically males would have higher CT attenuation value than female. CT attenuation value reduces with aging process. Asians including Malay population have smaller body dimension than Caucasians and the mean attenuation value of abdominal region in Asians could differ from 20 HU. Thus, there is a need for future research to investigate the interrelatedness of attenuation in CT (HU) and body dimension within Malay population and close this gap of knowledge. 

scholarly journals EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND PHYSICAL DECLINE TRAJECTORIES IN COMMUNITY DWELLING NON-DEMENTED OLDER ADULTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 801-801
Author(s):  
V. Del Panta ◽  
M. Colpo ◽  
G. Sini ◽  
B. Stefania
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical Decline

scholarly journals Combining tDCS With a Motor-Cognitive Task to Reduce the Negative Impact of Dual-Tasking on the Gait of Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 287-288
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Hausdorff ◽  
Nofar Schneider ◽  
Marina Brozgol ◽  
Pablo Cornejo Thumm ◽  
Nir Giladi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Virtual Reality Environment ◽  
Dual Tasking ◽  
Concurrent Performance ◽  
Dual Task Cost

Abstract The simultaneous performance of a secondary task while walking (i.e., dual tasking) increases motor-cognitive interference and fall risk in older adults. Combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with the concurrent performance of a task that putatively involves the same brain networks targeted by the tDCS may reduce the negative impact of dual-tasking on walking. We examined whether tDCS applied while walking reduces the dual-task costs to gait and whether this combination is better than tDCS alone or walking alone (with sham stimulation). In 25 healthy older adults (aged 75.7±10.5yrs), a double-blind, within-subject, cross-over pilot study evaluated the acute after-effects of 20 minutes of tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex and the dorsal lateral pre frontal cortex during three separate sessions:1) tDCS while walking on a treadmill in a virtual-reality environment (tDCS+walking), 2) tDCS while seated (tDCS+seated), and 3) walking in the virtual-reality environment with sham tDCS (sham+walking). The complex walking condition taxed motor and cognitive abilities. During each session, single- and dual-task walking and cognitive function were assessed before and immediately after stimulation. Compared to pre-tDCS performance, tDCS+walking reduced the dual-task cost to gait speed (p=0.004) and other gait features (e.g., variability p=0.02), and improved (p&lt;0.001) executive function (Stroop interference score). tDCS+seated and sham+walking did not affect the dual-task cost to gait speed (p&gt;0.17). These initial findings demonstrate that tDCS delivered during challenging walking ameliorates dual-task gait and executive function in older adults, suggesting that the concurrent performance of related tasks enhances the efficacy of the neural stimulation and mobility.

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