Attentional Capacity during Dual-task Balance Performance Deteriorates with Age before the Sixties

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human Aging
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Postural control can be automated, freeing up attentional resources for other tasks.
• This automatization and dual-task capacity may be compromised in older and impaired individuals, potentially earlier in healthy aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the age-related changes in postural control and attentional capacity during dual-task performance.
• To determine if dual-task performance deteriorates before the age of sixty.

Main Methods:

• A novel dual-task test assessing postural control and attentional capacity was administered to 112 healthy individuals across three age groups (<30, 30-60, >60 years).
• Participants' performance time was measured in single-task (baseline) and dual-task conditions with and without cues.

Main Results:

• Single-task performance time increased with age (r=0.32).
• Relative improvement in performance with cues (attentional capacity) decreased with age (r=-0.41).
• Middle-aged and elderly groups exhibited poorer dual-task performance compared to the young group, with significant differences in improvement with cues (Young: 26.6%, Middle-aged: 19.1%, Elderly: 10.1%).

Conclusions:

• Attentional capacity supporting dual-task balance is affected even before the age of sixty.
• Age-related decline in automatization impacts dual-task performance, highlighting the importance of attentional resources in maintaining balance across the lifespan.