Prefrontal cortex activation while walking did not change but gait speed improved after a randomized physical therapy...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Higher prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation during walking is linked to reduced gait automaticity.
• Older adults at risk for mobility disability may exhibit altered neural control of walking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if a 12-week physical therapy intervention improves PFC activation during walking in older adults.
• To assess the impact of training on gait automaticity and cognitive-motor performance.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 42 adults aged ≥65.
• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured PFC activation during various walking tasks.
• Gait speed and cognitive task performance (letter generation) were recorded pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in PFC activation were observed between the intervention and control groups post-training.
• Gait speed and correct letter generation improved in both groups, particularly during dual-task walking.
• Improvements in gait performance did not correlate with increased PFC activation.

Conclusions:

• The physical therapy intervention did not enhance PFC activation during walking in older adults.
• Improved gait speed without increased PFC activation suggests more efficient neural control of walking.
• Findings indicate potential for enhanced neural efficiency in gait following targeted training.