The Specificity of Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Interference on Balance in Young and Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: Standing upright on stable and unstable surfaces requires postural control. Postural control declines as humans age, presenting greater risk of fall-related injury and other negative health outcomes. Secondary cognitive tasks can further impact balance, which highlights the importance of coordination between cognitive and motor processes. Past research indicates that this coordination relies on executive function (EF; the ability to control, maintain, and flexibly direct attention to achieve goals), which coincidentally declines as humans age. This suggests that secondary cognitive tasks requiring EF may exert a greater influence on balance compared to non-EF secondary tasks, and this interaction could be exaggerated among older adults. In the current study, we had younger and older adults

SUBMITTER: Ward N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8786904 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature