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Disability Moderates Dual Task Walking Performance and Neural Efficiency in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis
Manuel E Hernandez1,2,3,4, Robert W Motl5, Frederick W Foley6,7
1Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
|August 23, 2024
Summary
Disability level in older adults with multiple sclerosis impacts prefrontal cortex activation during cognitive tasks. Lower disability showed greater neural adaptability and practice-related declines in brain activation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Mobility and cognitive impairments frequently co-occur in older adults with multiple sclerosis (OAMS).
- Limited research exists on how disability status affects cognitive gait control in OAMS.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation differences during cognitive tasks in OAMS with varying disability levels.
- Evaluate if disability moderates practice-related changes in neural efficiency using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Main Methods:
- Collected data from OAMS with lower (n=51) and higher (n=48) disability levels.
- Measured PFC activation (oxygenated hemoglobin) using fNIRS during single-task walk, Single-Task-Alpha, and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW).
Main Results:
- OAMS with lower disability showed decreased PFC activation during single-task walk compared to higher disability.
- Lower disability group exhibited larger PFC activation increases from single-task to dual-task walking.
- Lower disability group demonstrated greater PFC activation declines with practice.
Conclusions:
- Disability status significantly moderates brain adaptability to cognitively demanding tasks in OAMS.
- fNIRS-derived measures show potential for complementing neurorehabilitation outcomes in OAMS.
