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Walking impairs cognitive performance among people with multiple sclerosis but not controls
Matthew B Downer1, Megan C Kirkland1, Elizabeth M Wallack1
1Recovery & Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Rm 400, 100 Forest Rd., St. John's, NL A1A 1E5, Canada.
Human Movement Science
|July 3, 2016
Summary
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience significant dual-tasking (DT) challenges. Walking while performing a cognitive task drastically reduced accuracy in MS patients, highlighting a key impairment in daily functioning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Science
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently causes dual-tasking (DT) difficulties.
- Prior research primarily examined cognitive task impact on gait in MS.
- The effect of motor tasks on cognition in MS remains less explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how walking impacts concurrent working memory performance in MS.
- To compare dual-tasking (DT) cognitive performance in MS patients versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Recruited MS participants (n=13) and age/gender-matched controls (n=10).
- Assessed cognitive task (serial 7s) performance alone and during walking on an instrumented walkway.
- Measured accuracy and speed of cognitive task completion.
Main Results:
- No baseline differences in cognition or gait between groups.
- MS participants showed a 52% reduction in correct answers during dual-tasking (p<0.001).
- Mental Tracking Rate correlated with MS disability (EDSS; r=-0.68, p<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Walking significantly impairs working memory in MS patients.
- Reduced mental tracking during DT may stem from limited neural resources.
- DT cognitive impairment is a potential outcome measure for ecologically valid assessments in MS.
