Neural Response and Dual-Task Cost in Aging
Author Information
Author(s): Claudia Schneider, Sophie Molholm, John Foxe, Johanna Wagner, Pierfilippo De Sanctis
Primary Institution: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Hypothesis
The study aims to define a neural marker of dual-task cost (DTC) that, when combined with a behavioral measure, could provide a more robust predictor of fall risk and cognitive decline in older adults.
Conclusion
The study suggests that low dual-task cost is linked to changes in neurocognitive processing during walking, which may help improve early prediction of fall risk and cognitive decline in aging.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants experienced dual-task cost when performing the Go/NoGo task while walking.
- Participants exhibited a reduced ERP amplitude performing the Go/NoGo task during walking compared to sitting.
- Only the group with minimal dual-task cost revealed a NoGo-ERP modulation during walking.
Takeaway
As we get older, doing two things at once, like walking and thinking, can be harder. This study found a brain signal that might help us predict if someone is at risk of falling or having trouble thinking.
Methodology
The study acquired event-related potentials (ERP) from participants aged 65 and older while they performed a cognitive task sitting and walking.
Participant Demographics
Healthy individuals aged 65 years and older.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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