The Performance of Dual-Task Tests Can Be a Combined Neuro-Psychological and Motor Marker of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Depression and Dementia in Geriatric Patients-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Agnieszka Kasiukiewicz,Agnieszka Kasiukiewicz,Agnieszka Kasiukiewicz,Marta Swietek,Marta Swietek,Lukasz Magnuszewski,Lukasz Magnuszewski,Lukasz Magnuszewski,Zyta Beata Wojszel,Zyta Beata Wojszel,Zyta Beata Wojszel

doi:10.3390/jcm10225358

Abstract

The study aims to assess the performance of dual-task tests in the geriatric population and their association with the cognitive status of the patients. Methods: Patients admitted to the Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration on Bialystok, Poland, in 2019 and 2020 were enrolled in the study. Data on the patients’ clinical, functional, and cognitive status were collected based on the comprehensive geriatric assessment. Dual-task tests included Timed Up and Go (TUG) test while counting backward (CB7), enumerating animals (EA), and holding a cup (TUG M). Results: 250 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 81.5 years (IQR 76–86) and most above 75 years of age (80.8%). Only 29 (11.6%) of study participants had no cognitive or mood disorders. Depression was diagnosed in 30.4%, MCI in 12%, and dementia in 38.4% of cases with median Mini-Mental Score Evaluation (MMSE) 17 (12–20) points. Dual-task TUG CB7 results did not differ between cognitive conditions of patients. TUG EA differed between healthy controls and other cognitive groups and TUG between healthy controls and depression and dementia, but not mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The performance of all dual-task tests differed in patients with and without dementia. Ability to finish TUG CB7 was low even in the group without dementia. There were statistically significant differences in median scores of MMSE and Clock Drawing Test (CDT) between patients who were able or not to finish single and dual-task gait tests. Conclusion: Dual-task test results and the performance of these tasks can differentiate patients with depression, MCI and dementia compared to healthy controls in the geriatric population.

Highlights

Dementia and cognitive decline are global issues, as they often lead to functional disability and dependency of older people [1]
Our study aims to assess the performance of dual-task tests in the geriatric population and their association with the cognitive status of the patients
The median age of the patients was 81.5 years (IQR 76–86), and most of them were above 75 years of age (80.8%), female (73.2%), and living in the urban community (88.4%)

Summary

Introduction

Dementia and cognitive decline are global issues, as they often lead to functional disability and dependency of older people [1]. They burden patients and family caregivers and, in addition, the medical system and economic resources. It is crucial to diagnose cognitive decline in the early stages to implement pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment to slow down the process and prevent disability. It is due to several reasons, including a limited number of specialists (geriatricians, neuropsychologists) specializing in older patients’ disorders, lack of established biomarkers of early stages of decline and “insensitivity” of society, and tendency to call memory decline as typical to aging

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