Abstract
This cross-sectional study investigated the interactive dual-task (DT) effects of executive function demands and environmental constraints on older adults’ walking and the moderating role of habitual physical activity (PA). Locomotor performance under different environmental constraints (flat versus obstructed walking) and cognitive performance with different executive function involvement (backward counting versus random number generation) were assessed under single-task (ST) and DT conditions in 135 participants (mean age 68.1 ± 8.4). The weekly number of daily steps was measured. Reciprocal DT effects of walking on cognitive performance and of the cognitive task on gait performance were computed and submitted to analyses of covariance with age, PA level, and cognitive functioning as covariates, followed by linear regressions with PA level as predictor. Cognitive task demands and environmental constraints individually and jointly affected gait variability (p = 0.033, ηp2 = 0.08) and executive function performance (p = 0.009, ηp2 = 0.09). Physical activity level predicted a low but significant percentage of variance of DT effects on gait only in flat walking (R2 = 0.04, p = 0.027). Results suggest that older individuals may adopt variable task prioritization in dual tasking depending on the type of executive function involvement and the environmental constraints on walking. Their DT ability was slightly affected by habitual PA.
Highlights
Walking is a major component of physical activity and human mobility, defined as the ability to autonomously move in the environment [1]
Descriptive statistics and related DT effects are reported in Table 4 for gait variables and in Table 5 for cognitive variables
We evaluated whether adding cognitive tasks with different executive function challenges to walking under flat and obstructed conditions produced reciprocal DT effects that may elucidate task prioritization
Summary
Walking is a major component of physical activity and human mobility, defined as the ability to autonomously move in the environment [1]. Insufficient walking is a main determinant of the. 23% of adults, estimated worldwide, who do not meet global recommendations on physical activity for health [2]. The onset of the ability to walk has a wide-reaching impact on whole child development [5] and its offset in older adults with chronic conditions is a major cause of a cascade of adverse events compromising health and quality of life [6]. The cost to society of insufficient walking is underestimated when costs outside. Public Health 2019, 16, 1835; doi:10.3390/ijerph16101835 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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