Cognitive Motor Dual Task Costs in Older Adults with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR) is characterized by the interplay of motor and cognitive decline in older adults.
• Understanding this interplay is crucial for developing effective interventions to maintain functional independence.
• Cognitive Motor Dual Task (CMDT) paradigms offer a method to assess these integrated abilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify Cognitive Motor Dual Task (CMDT) costs in community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR).
• To explore the relationship between CMDT costs and various cognitive performance metrics in this population.
• To determine if CMDT performance can serve as an indicator of cognitive function in older adults with MCR.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 25 community-dwelling older adults (60-89 years) with MCR participated in the study.
• Participants completed single and dual-task complex walking scenarios.
• A computerized cognitive testing battery assessed cognitive functions including Working Memory, Processing Speed, and Shifting.

Main Results:

• Lower CMDT costs were associated with superior performance on composite measures of Working Memory, Processing Speed, and Shifting.
• Individuals with lower CMDT costs also demonstrated higher scores on an overall cognitive composite measure.
• Faster single-task gait velocity correlated positively with higher scores in Working Memory, Processing Speed, and overall cognition.

Conclusions:

• CMDT paradigms effectively reveal the complex relationship between cognitive and motor functions in older adults with MCR.
• Reduced CMDT costs may indicate better cognitive reserve and functional capacity in this demographic.
• These findings support the utility of CMDT assessments for evaluating and potentially targeting interventions for MCR.