Abstract
(41st Biennial Convention) Objective: To describe the relationship between executive function and gait velocity under three walking conditions: usual gait, simple dual task and complex dual task of Mexican elders. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional design. Random sampling by cluster. Sample size was 202 elders drawn from eight senior centers; with power of 90%, effect size for a bilateral correlational test of 0.22, and significance level of 0.05. Executive function was measured by the Color Trails Test (attention and mental flexibility) and the STROOP test (attention inhibitory control). Gait was measured at usual speed (simple task), simple dual task (walking while holding a tray with a glass of water) and a complex dual task walking while repeating as many words as possible starting with a randomized letter. Results: Mean age was 70.28 years (SD = 6.84), years of school were 5.44 (SD = 3.44). Gait velocity under usual speed was 1.006 m/s (SD = .242), simple dual task was 0.958 m/s (SD = .248), and under complex dual task 0.651 m/s (SD = .247). Attention (Color Trails part A) was inverse related to all three walking conditions (r =-0.328, -0.343, -0.188, all ps < .01, usual, simple dual and complex dual task, respectively). Mental flexibility (Color Trails interference rate) was inverse related only to walking under dual complex task (r = -0.169, p < .05). Attention inhibitory control was inverse related to complex dual task performance of gait (r = -0.165, p < .01). Conclusions: Elders reduce their usual speed under both, simple dual task and complex dual task suggesting that in order to attend an extra task while walking they compensate by decreasing gait speed. Reducing their gait speed does not guarantee success on the cognitive task, rather only they are focusing on the other task.
Sigma Membership
Unknown
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Gait, elders, executive function
Recommended Citation
Salazar, Bertha Cecilia; Celestino, Mirtha Idalia; and Enriquez-Reyna, Maria Cristina, "Executive Function and Dual Task Performance of Gait in Mexican Elders" (2012). Convention. 14.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2011/presentations_2011/14
Conference Name
41st Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Conference Year
2011
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Executive Function and Dual Task Performance of Gait in Mexican Elders
Grapevine, Texas, USA
(41st Biennial Convention) Objective: To describe the relationship between executive function and gait velocity under three walking conditions: usual gait, simple dual task and complex dual task of Mexican elders. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional design. Random sampling by cluster. Sample size was 202 elders drawn from eight senior centers; with power of 90%, effect size for a bilateral correlational test of 0.22, and significance level of 0.05. Executive function was measured by the Color Trails Test (attention and mental flexibility) and the STROOP test (attention inhibitory control). Gait was measured at usual speed (simple task), simple dual task (walking while holding a tray with a glass of water) and a complex dual task walking while repeating as many words as possible starting with a randomized letter. Results: Mean age was 70.28 years (SD = 6.84), years of school were 5.44 (SD = 3.44). Gait velocity under usual speed was 1.006 m/s (SD = .242), simple dual task was 0.958 m/s (SD = .248), and under complex dual task 0.651 m/s (SD = .247). Attention (Color Trails part A) was inverse related to all three walking conditions (r =-0.328, -0.343, -0.188, all ps < .01, usual, simple dual and complex dual task, respectively). Mental flexibility (Color Trails interference rate) was inverse related only to walking under dual complex task (r = -0.169, p < .05). Attention inhibitory control was inverse related to complex dual task performance of gait (r = -0.165, p < .01). Conclusions: Elders reduce their usual speed under both, simple dual task and complex dual task suggesting that in order to attend an extra task while walking they compensate by decreasing gait speed. Reducing their gait speed does not guarantee success on the cognitive task, rather only they are focusing on the other task.
Description
41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & convention Center.