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Executive dysfunction and effectiveness of physical program in older adults: which association?
Catherine Couturier1, Guy Rincé1, Guillaume Chapelet1
1Clinical Gerontology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, 44000, Nantes, France.
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
|October 21, 2022
Summary
Personalized exercise programs significantly improve mobility and dual-task gait speed in older adults. These benefits are achieved regardless of an individual's executive function status, making interventions accessible to most high-risk seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Executive function's role in gait performance among older adults is not well understood.
- Personalized exercise interventions show promise for improving mobility in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if baseline executive function influences the effectiveness of personalized exercise on gait performance in older adults.
- To assess the impact of a personalized rehabilitation program on various gait parameters.
Main Methods:
- 175 older adults (mean age 83.57 years) participated in a 7-week personalized exercise program.
- Gait speed (preferred, fast, dual-task), Timed Up and Go, and handgrip strength were measured pre- and post-intervention.
- Executive function was assessed using the Frontal Assessment Battery.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in dual-task gait speed (counting and fluency tasks) and Timed Up and Go performance.
- These improvements occurred irrespective of participants' baseline executive function levels.
- Handgrip strength also showed positive changes post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- Individualized, personalized interventions effectively enhance mobility and dual-task gait speed in older adults.
- The positive effects of these interventions are independent of baseline executive function.
- Executive function deficits should not deter the implementation of beneficial personalized interventions for high-risk older adults.
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