Gait and Dual-Task Performance in Older Adults with Suspected Cognitive Impairment: Effects of an 8-Week Exercise...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Gait performance in aging is cognitively demanding.
• Dual-task costs in institutionalized older adults are understudied.
• Short-term interventions' effects on gait in this population need investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare gait performance in older adults with and without cognitive impairment.
• Evaluate the impact of an 8-week multicomponent exercise program on functional mobility.

Main Methods:

• Institutionalized older adults (n=42) were divided into groups based on cognitive screening (MMSE, Clock Drawing Test).
• Participants completed Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Dual-Task TUG (TUG-DT) at baseline and post-intervention.
• An 8-week multicomponent exercise program was administered.

Main Results:

• At baseline, the suspected cognitive impairment group performed significantly worse on TUG and TUG-DT (p < 0.001).
• Post-intervention, the suspected impairment group showed significant improvements in TUG (r=-0.73) and TUG-DT (r=-0.59).
• The non-impaired group's performance remained stable; TUG-DT highlighted ongoing cognitive-motor load.

Conclusions:

• Multicomponent exercise effectively improves functional mobility in cognitively vulnerable older adults.
• The program reversed declines in both single and dual-task gait.
• Dual-task screening can identify deficits, and exercise programs can preserve autonomy.