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Aging effects on visual reaction time in a single task condition and when treadmill walking.

William A Sparrow1, Rezaul K Begg, Suzanne Parker

  • 1School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.

Motor Control
|November 16, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Older men exhibit slower visual reaction times (RT) when walking compared to standing. This suggests sustained attention in older adults during dual-task walking, potentially influencing their preferred walking speed.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Human Movement Science
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Aging is associated with changes in motor control and cognitive function.
  • Dual-tasking, performing a motor and cognitive task simultaneously, can reveal age-related differences in attention and processing.
  • Understanding how older adults manage attention during walking is crucial for mobility and fall prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare visual reaction time (RT) in older men and younger adults during single-task (standing) and dual-task (walking) conditions.
  • To investigate the effects of aging and dual-tasking on RT and its variability.
  • To explore the attentional demands of walking in older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Visual reaction time (RT) was measured in 10 older men (mean age 71.1 years) and 10 younger men (mean age 26.3 years).

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  • Participants completed 90 trials over 15 minutes under two conditions: standing (single task) and walking on a motor-driven treadmill (dual task).
  • Mean, median, and within-subject variability of RT were analyzed.

    • Main Results:

    • Both groups exhibited longer mean and median RTs during the dual-task (walking) compared to the single-task (standing).
    • Older men demonstrated significantly slower mean and median RTs than younger adults in both conditions.
    • No significant age or condition effects were found on within-subject RT variability. Both groups showed a trend of increasing RT over time in the single task, but only the younger group slowed during the walking task.

    Conclusions:

    • Older adults maintain high but sustained attention while walking, as indicated by their RT performance.
    • The attentional demands associated with the motor task of walking may contribute to slower preferred walking speeds in older adults.
    • These findings highlight the complex interplay between cognitive and motor functions in aging and mobility.