Lap time variation and executive function in older adults: the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

ABSTRACT:

Background

poor cognitive and motor performance predicts neurological dysfunction. Variable performance may be a subclinical indicator of emerging neurological problems.

Objective

examine the cross-sectional association between a clinically accessible measure of variable walking and executive function.

Methods

older adults aged 60 or older from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 811) with data on the 400-m walk test and cognition. Based on ten 40-m laps, we calculated mean lap time (MLT) and variation in time across ten 40-m laps (lap time variation, LTV). Executive function tests assessed attention and short-term memory (digit span forward and backward), psychomotor speed [Trail Making Test (TMT) part A] and multicomponent tasks requiring cognitive flexib

SUBMITTER: Tian Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4547927 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature