scholarly journals The Specificity of Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Interference on Balance in Young and Older Adults

2022 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Ward ◽  
Alekya Menta ◽  
Virginia Ulichney ◽  
Cristiana Raileanu ◽  
Thomas Wooten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Surface Stability ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Dual Task Interference

Standing upright on stable and unstable surfaces requires postural control. Postural control declines as humans age, presenting greater risk of fall-related injury and other negative health outcomes. Secondary cognitive tasks can further impact balance, which highlights the importance of coordination between cognitive and motor processes. Past research indicates that this coordination relies on executive function (EF; the ability to control, maintain, and flexibly direct attention to achieve goals), which coincidentally declines as humans age. This suggests that secondary cognitive tasks requiring EF may exert a greater influence on balance compared to non-EF secondary tasks, and this interaction could be exaggerated among older adults. In the current study, we had younger and older adults complete two Surface Stability conditions (standing upright on stable vs. unstable surfaces) under varying Cognitive Load; participants completed EF (Shifting, Inhibiting, Updating) and non-EF (Processing Speed) secondary cognitive tasks on tablets, as well as a single task control scenario with no secondary cognitive task. Our primary balance measure of interest was sway area, which was measured with an array of wearable inertial measurement unit sensors. Replicating prior work, we found a main effect of Surface Stability with less sway on stable surfaces compared to unstable surfaces, and we found an interaction between Age and Surface Stability with older adults exhibiting significantly greater sway selectively on unstable surfaces compared to younger adults. New findings revealed a main effect of Cognitive Load on sway, with the single task condition having significantly less sway than two of the EF conditions (Updating and Shifting) and the non-EF condition (Processing Speed). We also found an interaction of Cognitive Load and Surface Stability on postural control, where Surface Stability impacted sway the most for the single task and two of the executive function conditions (Inhibition and Shifting). Interestingly, Age did not interact with Cognitive Load, suggesting that both age groups were equally impacted by secondary cognitive tasks, regardless the presence or type of secondary cognitive task. Taken together, these patterns suggest that cognitive demands vary in their impact on posture control across stable vs. unstable surfaces, and that EF involvement may not be the driving mechanism explaining cognitive-motor dual-task interference on balance.

scholarly journals Backward Protective Stepping During Dual-Task Scenarios in People With Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 702-710
Author(s):  
Daniel S. Peterson ◽  
Jordan S. Barajas ◽  
Linda Denney ◽  
Shyamal H. Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Task Interference ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dual Task Interference

Introduction. Reactive movements in response to a loss of balance are altered in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and are critical for fall prevention. Further, falls are more common while attention is divided. Although divided attention has been shown to impact postural responses in healthy older adults, the impact of dividing attention on reactive balance, and the natural prioritization across postural and cognitive tasks in people with PD is largely unknown. Objectives. To characterize (1) the impact of a secondary cognitive task on reactive postural control and (2) the prioritization across stepping and cognitive tasks in people with PD. Methods. Sixteen people with PD and 14 age-matched controls underwent step-inducing, support-surface perturbations from stance, with and without an auditory Stroop secondary cognitive task. Cognitive, neuromuscular, and protective stepping performance were calculated for single and dual task scenarios. Results. In PD and control participants, cognitive reaction times ( P = .001) and muscle onset latency ( P = .007), but not protective step outcomes ( P > .12 for all) were worse during dual tasking compared with single-task scenarios. Both PD and control groups prioritized the protective stepping task over the cognitive task. Overall, people with PD exhibited worse first-step margin of stability (a measure of protective step performance) than controls ( P = .044). Conclusion. This study provides preliminary evidence that people with PD, like age-matched controls, exhibit cognitive and neuromuscular, but not protective step, dual-task interference. The lack of dual-task interference on step performance indicates a postural prioritization for PD and healthy older adults during dual-task protective stepping.

The Impact of Cognitive Load on Volitional Running

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1179-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan J. Blakely ◽  
Kyle Wilson ◽  
Paul N. Russell ◽  
William S. Helton
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
High Load ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Running Speed ◽  
Original Experiment ◽  
The Impact

The effects of physical activity on cognition and the effects of cognitive load on physical activity are complex. Both the nature of the physical activity and cognitive task may influence the interactive effects of performing a physical task while also performing a cognitive task. In a previous study examining the impact of increasing cognitive load on outdoor running speed and the impact of outdoor running on cognitive performance, Blakely et al. (2015) found running speed decreased as cognitive load increased. They also found that the impact of running itself on cognitive performance occurred when the cognitive task was itself demanding (high cognitive load). In the current study we expanded on this previous research by improving the experimental task to rule out peripheral sensory, not central or executive, interference and by incorporating heart rate measures and VO2 max estimates. Twelve runners completed five conditions, two seated cognitive tasks (one low load and one high load), two dual running cognitive tasks and one run only. Results were similar to the original experiment, as the cognitive task became more difficult, voluntary running speed decreased. Also the effects of running on cognitive performance (counting) were found only when the cognitive task was high load.

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.

Impact of Attentional Loading and Task Constraints on Postural Control of Healthy Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-25
Author(s):  
Eryk Przysucha ◽  
Brontë A. Vollebregt ◽  
Carlos Zerpa
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Quiet Standing ◽  
Support Surface ◽  
Task Constraints ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Practical Standpoint ◽  
Support Surfaces ◽  
Attentional Tasks

Postural control is attention demanding, and it may be jeopardized when a secondary cognitive task is involved, particularly for older adults. The magnitude of this interference depends on different individual (perceptuo-motor status), task (single vs. dual tasking), and environmental constraints (support surface). The purpose of this research was to examine if older adults may be affected by various types of secondary cognitive tasks, while maintaining quiet standing on different support surfaces. In line with conceptual models, the results indicated that postural control of older adults was compromised when they were required to dual-task, especially when the support surface was challenging. This was a robust finding across all the measures of COP. In regards to the degree to which different attentional tasks affected postural control, the results remained equivocal. From a practical standpoint, the results indicated that older adults should exhibit caution when simultaneously performing a balance and a cognitive task involved particularly when the surface is unsteady.

scholarly journals Reduction of Dual-task Costs by Noninvasive Modulation of Prefrontal Activity in Healthy Elders

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Manor ◽  
Junhong Zhou ◽  
Azizah Jor'dan ◽  
Jue Zhang ◽  
Jing Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Dual Tasking ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Task Conditions

Dual tasking (e.g., walking or standing while performing a cognitive task) disrupts performance in one or both tasks, and such dual-task costs increase with aging into senescence. Dual tasking activates a network of brain regions including pFC. We therefore hypothesized that facilitation of prefrontal cortical activity via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) would reduce dual-task costs in older adults. Thirty-seven healthy older adults completed two visits during which dual tasking was assessed before and after 20 min of real or sham tDCS targeting the left pFC. Trials of single-task standing, walking, and verbalized serial subtractions were completed, along with dual-task trials of standing or walking while performing serial subtractions. Dual-task costs were calculated as the percent change in markers of gait and postural control and serial subtraction performance, from single to dual tasking. Significant dual-task costs to standing, walking, and serial subtraction performance were observed before tDCS (p < .01). These dual-task costs were less after real tDCS as compared with sham tDCS as well as compared with either pre-tDCS condition (p < .03). Further analyses indicated that tDCS did not alter single task performance but instead improved performance solely within dual-task conditions (p < .02). These results demonstrate that dual tasking can be improved by modulating prefrontal activity, thus indicating that dual-task decrements are modifiable and may not necessarily reflect an obligatory consequence of aging. Moreover, tDCS may ultimately serve as a novel approach to preserving dual-task capacity into senescence.

scholarly journals ASSOCIATIONS OF DUAL TASK EXERGAMING WITH COGNITIVE-MOTOR INTERFERENCE IN OLDER ADULTS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: A SINGLE-ARM PILOT STUDY

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
L. Kannan ◽  
T. Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Wii Fit ◽  
Sequencing Task

Purpose: To examine the feasibility and effectiveness of dual task (DT) exergaming to improve volitional balance control in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Ten older adults with MCI were examined at baseline (week-0) and post-training (week-5) on volitional balance control (maximum excursion of center of gravity, MXE [%]) while performing cognitive task (auditory clock test or letter number sequencing task) and on the NIH-motor and cognitive toolboxes. DT exergaming training lasted for 12 sessions which consisted of performing explicit cognitive tasks while playing the Wii-Fit balance games. Results: From pre- to post-training, MXE improved (p<0.05); however, cognitive accuracy (cognitive task) remained the same (p>0.05). Improvement in NIH motor and cognitive toolbox tests was observed post-training (p<0.05). Conclusion: DT exergaming was associated to improvements in balance control under attention-demanding conditions in MCI. Future studies may focus on examining the efficacy of such training.

Cognitive Reserve Moderates the Efficiency of Prefrontal Cortex Activation Patterns of Gait in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roee Holtzer ◽  
Daliah Ross ◽  
Catherine O’Brien ◽  
Meltem Izzetoglu ◽  
Mark E Wagshul
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Single Task

Abstract Background Cognitive Reserve (CR) protects against cognitive decline, but whether CR influences the efficiency of cortical control of gait has not been reported. The current study addressed this important gap in the literature. Specifically, we determined the role of CR in moderating the efficiency of functional Near-Infrared-Spectroscopy (fNIRS)-derived HbO2 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) assessed during active walking. We hypothesized that higher CR would be associated with more efficient brain activation patterns. Methods Participants were 55 (mean age=74.84; %female=49.1) older adults who underwent the combined walking/fNIRS protocol and had MRI data. We used an established dual-task walking paradigm that consisted of three task conditions: Single-Task-Walk (STW), Single-Task-Alpha (STA, cognitive task) and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW). Using the residuals approach, CR was derived from a word-reading test score by removing variance accounted for by socio-demographic variables, tests of current cognitive functions and a measure of structural brain integrity. Results CR moderated the change in fNIRS-derived HbO2 in the PFC across tasks. Higher CR was associated with smaller increases in fNIRS-derived HbO2 from the single tasks to dual task walking (CR x DTW compared to STW: estimate = .183; p &lt; .001; CR x DTW compared to STA: estimate =.257; p &lt; .001). The moderation effect of CR remained significant when adjusting for multiple covariates and concurrent moderation effects of measures of gait performance, current cognitive functions and structural integrity of the brain. Conclusion The current study provided first evidence that higher CR was associated with better neural efficiency of walking in older adults.

Increased Load Computerized Dynamic Posturography in Prefrail and Nonfrail Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Biggan ◽  
Forest Melton ◽  
Michael A. Horvat ◽  
Mark Ricard ◽  
David Keller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Load Testing ◽  
Dynamic Posturography ◽  
Cognitive Stress ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Sensory Organization

The understanding of prefrail and nonfrail older adults’ postural control with and without increased environmental and cognitive stress is imperative to the development of targeted interventions to decrease fall risk within these populations. Thirty-eight individuals participated in this study. Postural control testing included the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) on a NeuroCom EquiTest. Cognitive and environmental load testing was performed during Condition 6 of the SOT. Though there were no group differences on composite equilibrium score (p= .06), the cognitive task (Stroop task) impaired equilibrium scores more than the auditory or visual distracter tasks (p< .05 andp< .01) for both groups. These results suggest that both prefrail and nonfrail older adults’ postural control is reduced in demanding environments. Given these findings, the need for multimodal exercise interventions to target both physical and cognitive factors is apparent.

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