Novel attentional gait index reveals a cognitive ability-related decline in gait automaticity during dual-task walking.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Gait automaticity refers to the ability to walk with minimal recruitment of attentional networks typically mediated through the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Reduced gait automaticity (i.e., greater use of attentional resources during walking) is common with aging, contributing to an increased risk of falls and reduced quality of life. A common assessment of gait automaticity involves examining PFC activation using near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during dual-task (DT) paradigms, such as walking while performing a cognitive task. However, neither PFC activity nor task performance in isolation measures automaticity accurately. For example, greater PFC activation could be interpreted as worse gait automaticity when accompanied by poorer DT performance, but when accompanied

SUBMITTER: Liu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10808635 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature