Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Background: Prior work suggests there may be greater reliance on executive function for walking in older people. The pre-frontal cortex (PFC), which controls aspects of executive function, is known to be active during dual-task walking (DTW). However, there is debate on how PFC activity during DTW is impacted by ageing and the requirements of the cognitive task.Research Question: Functional near infrared spectroscopy, was used to investigate how PFC activity during walking was affected by i) healthy ageing; and ii) dual-tasks that utilise inhibition or working memory aspects of executive function.Methods: Young (n=26, 16 females, mean 20.9 years) and older (n=26, 16 females, mean 70.3 years) adults performed five conditions: normal walking; Reciting Alternate Letters of the alphabet (RAL, requiring cognitive inhibition and working memory) during standing and walking; and serial subtraction by threes (SS3, requiring working memory alone) during standing and walking. Walking speed, cognitive performance, the PFC haemodynamic response, and fear of falling ratings were analysed using linear mixed-effects modelling.Results: Compared to quiet standing, PFC activity increased during normal walking for older adults but decreased for young adults (pSignificance: Older adults have increased levels of PFC activation during walking compared to younger adults and fear of falling is a cofounding factor. The interference between gait and a concurrent cognitive task is higher when the cognitive task requires inhibition.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	St George, RJ and Jayakodv, O and Healey, R and Breslin, M and Hinder, MR and Callisaya, ML
Keywords:	Dual-task gait, inhibition, gait speed, FNIRS, FES-I, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, gait, ageing, dual-tasks, functional imaging, gait speed
Journal or Publication Title:	Gait and Posture
Publisher:	Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd
ISSN:	0966-6362
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.04.021
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2021 Elsevier
Related URLs:	Google Scholar: St George, RJ Google Scholar: Hinder, MR UTAS Profile: Hinder, MR Google Scholar: Callisaya, ML UTAS Profile: Callisaya, ML
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page