Abstract
BackgroundUnderstanding the functional status of people with Alzheimer Disease (AD), both in a single (ST) and cognitive dual task (DT) activities is essential for identifying signs of early-stage neurodegeneration. This study aims to compare the performance quality of several tasks using sensors embedded in an Android device, among people at different stages of Alzheimer and people without dementia. The secondary aim is to analyze the effect of cognitive task performance on mobility tasks.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study including 22 participants in the control group (CG), 18 in the group with mild AD and 22 in the group with moderate AD. They performed two mobility tests, under ST and DT conditions, which were registered using an Android device. Postural control was measured by medial-lateral and anterior-posterior displacements of the COM (MLDisp and APDisp, respectively) and gait, with the vertical and medial-lateral range of the COM (Vrange and MLrange). Further, the sit-to-stand (PStand) and turning and sit power (PTurnSit), the total time required to complete the test and the reaction time were measured.ResultsThere were no differences between the two AD stages either for ST or DT in any of the variables (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, people at both stages showed significantly lower values of PStand and PTurnSit and larger Total time and Reaction time compared to CG (p < 0.05). Further, Vrange is also lower in CDR1G than in CG (p < 0.05). The DT had a significant deleterious effect on MLDisp in all groups (p < 0.05) and on APDisp only in moderate AD for DT.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that AD patients present impairments in some key functional abilities, such as gait, turning and sitting, sit to stand, and reaction time, both in mild and moderate AD. Nevertheless, an exclusively cognitive task only influences the postural control in people with AD.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the primary cause of irreversible dementia among elderly people [1]
When the walking task was analyzed, the results showed that the vertical range of the center of mass (COM) during gait (Vrange) presented differences between groups during the single task (ST), being 29.21% higher in control group (CG) than in CDR1G and the values from the CG being 23.29% higher than those obtained by the CDRG2, the latter comparison did not achieve the level of significance
Our results showed that the power generated to stand up from the chair is greater in people without dementia than in Alzheimer Disease (AD) patients, at either stage, during ST and only greater than in moderate AD patients during the dual task (DT) test
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the primary cause of irreversible dementia among elderly people [1]. Several studies have suggested that changes in gait might This implies the necessity of assessing functional tasks such as gait and other more complex daily life activities (DLA) that require neuromuscular coordination planning (i.e. sitting down and getting up from a chair or turning around) in this population. Serra-Añó et al Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation (2019) 16:103 the integrative function, both cognitive and behavioral components, and are the basis of the ability to manage independent DLA [5] These functional activities, in a real context, are not usually conducted alone but are performed simultaneously with other activities whose execution require attention; this is known as dual tasking. The secondary aim is to analyze the effect of cognitive task performance on mobility tasks
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