Related Experiment Videos
[Influence of a specific cognitive task on spatial-temporal walking parameters in elderly frail individuals]
O Beauchet1, V Dubost, F Stierlam
1Département de gériatrie, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, ch. du Pont-Bochet, 3, route de Mon Idée, 1226 Genève-Thônex, Suisse. Olivier.Beauchet@hcuge.ch
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|August 7, 2002
Summary
Performing mental calculations while walking significantly impacts gait in elderly individuals, increasing steps and deviations. This suggests walking requires more attention in older adults, potentially explaining fall risks.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Walking is typically an implicit motor behavior requiring minimal attention.
- Fragile elderly individuals are at a higher risk of falls, but the underlying reasons are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if performing a cognitive task (mental calculation) while walking alters gait parameters in fragile elderly patients compared to healthy controls.
- To determine if walking becomes less implicit and more attention-dependent in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Thirty fragile elderly subjects and 30 healthy controls walked a 10-meter straight line under two conditions: normal walking and walking while performing a counting task.
- Gait parameters including time, number of steps, lateral deviations, and stops were recorded via video analysis.
Main Results:
- The dual-task condition significantly increased walking time and step count in both groups, with a more pronounced effect in the elderly.
- Elderly participants showed significant reductions in step cadence and length, and a notable increase in lateral deviations and stops when dual-tasking.
- Healthy controls exhibited less significant changes in gait parameters under the dual-task condition.
Conclusions:
- Walking demands more attentional resources in the elderly compared to younger adults.
- The shift from implicit to explicit attention in walking for the elderly may contribute to their increased risk of falls.
- These findings highlight the importance of cognitive load in elderly mobility and fall prevention strategies.