Functional connectivity associated with gait velocity during walking and walking‐while‐talking in aging: A resting‐state fMRI study

Yuan, John; Blumen, Helena M.; Verghese, Joe; Holtzer, Roee

doi:10.1002/hbm.22717

Cited by 112 publications

(118 citation statements)

References 98 publications

(155 reference statements)

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“…Moreover, the left lateral PFC has been identified in several independent fMRI studies as a key functional region that subserves dual-tasking 43–45 . In a recent resting-state fMRI study we have shown that increased functional connectivity in a left lateralized fronto-parietal network, especially in the PFC and supplementary motor areas, was uniquely related WWT performance 46 . Hence, the relatively greater changes observed in channel 2 and 3 in WWT compared to both NW and Alpha are consistent with the above referenced literature extending the unique role of the left lateral PFC to attention demanding locomotion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Online fronto-cortical control of simple and attention-demanding locomotion in humans

et al. 2015

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Knowledge of online functional brain mechanisms of locomotion is scarce due to technical limitations of traditional neuroimaging methods. Using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) we evaluated task-related changes in oxygenated hemoglobin levels (HbO2) in real-time over the pre-frontal-cortex (PFC) regions during simple (Normal Walk; NW) and attention-demanding (Walking While Talking; WWT) locomotion tasks in a large cohort of non-demented older adults. Results revealed that the assessment of task-related changes in HbO2 was internally consistent. Imposing greater demands on the attention system during locomotion resulted in robust bilateral PFC increases in HbO2 levels during WWT compared to NW and the cognitive interference tasks. Elevated PFC oxygenation levels were maintained throughout the course of WWT but not during the NW condition. Increased oxygenation levels in the PFC were related to greater stride length and better cognitive performance but not to faster gait velocity in WWT. These findings elucidate online brain mechanisms of locomotion, and confer significant implications for risk assessment and intervention for major mobility outcomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Online fronto-cortical control of simple and attention-demanding locomotion in humans

et al. 2015

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“…The focus on the PFC, however, is justified theoretically and is supported by empirical findings (Holtzer et al 2012b). In resting state fMRI of actual locomotion (Yuan et al 2014) and fMRI of imagined locomotion (Blumen et al 2014) studies, we identified latent brain patterns that were related to gait under single and dual-task conditions. In both studies, the PFC was uniquely associated with actual and imagined WWT performance providing converging evidence to the key role this brain region plays in cognitive control of locomotion, notably under attention-demanding conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurological Gait Abnormalities Moderate the Functional Brain Signature of the Posture First Hypothesis

et al. 2015

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The posture first hypothesis suggests that under dual-task walking conditions older adults prioritize gait over cognitive task performance. Functional neural confirmation of this hypothesis, however, is lacking. Herein, we determined the functional neural correlates of the posture first hypothesis and hypothesized that the presence of neurological gait abnormalities (NGA) would moderate associations between brain activations, gait and cognitive performance. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy we assessed changes in oxygenated hemoglobin levels in the pre-frontal cortex (PFC) during normal walk and walk while talk (WWT) conditions in a large cohort of non-demented older adults (n = 236; age = 75.5 ± 6.49 years; female = 51.7 %). NGA were defined as central (due to brain diseases) or peripheral (neuropathic gait) following a standardized neurological examination protocol. Double dissociations between brain activations and behavior emerged as a function of NGA. Higher oxygenation levels during WWT were related to better cognitive performance (estimate = 0.145; p < 0.001) but slower gait velocity (estimate = −6.336, p <0.05) among normals. In contrast, higher oxygenation levels during WWT among individuals with peripheral NGA were associated with worse cognitive performance (estimate = −0.355; p <0.001) but faster gait velocity (estimate = 14.855; p <0.05). Increased activation in the PFC during locomotion may have a compensatory function that is designed to support gait among individuals with peripheral NGA.

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“…Other neuroimaging studies have linked functional brain networks during rest with single-task gait (Sakurai et al 2014) and dual-task gait (Yuan et al 2015). The first study found that cerebral glucose metabolism in the PFC, PCC, and parietal cortex was associated with single-task gait and these regions were thought to be constitutive parts of the default mode network (Sakurai et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first study found that cerebral glucose metabolism in the PFC, PCC, and parietal cortex was associated with single-task gait and these regions were thought to be constitutive parts of the default mode network (Sakurai et al 2014). The second study found that dual-task gait was associated with greater connectivity in dorsolateral prefrontal regions of the left fronto-parietal resting state network (Yuan et al 2015). Our results showing gray matter overlaid with these regions linked to single- and dual-task gait are in accordance with these findings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gray matter volume and dual-task gait performance in mild cognitive impairment

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Blumen

Verghese

et al. 2016

Brain Imaging and Behavior

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Dual-task gait performance is impaired in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, but the brain substrates associated with dual-task gait performance are not well-established. The relationship between gray matter and gait speed under single-task and dual-task conditions (walking while counting backward) was examined in 560 seniors with mild cognitive impairment (non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment: n = 270; mean age = 72.4 yrs., 63.6 % women; amnestic mild cognitive impairment: n = 290; mean age = 73.4 yrs., 45.4 % women). Multivariate covariance-based analyses of magnetic resonance imaging data, adjusted for potential confounders including single-task gait speed, were performed to identify gray matter patterns associated with dual-task gait speed. There were no differences in gait speed or cognitive performance during dual-task gait between individuals with non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment and amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Overall, increased dual-task gait speed was associated with a gray matter pattern of increased volume in medial frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate, cingulate, precuneus, fusiform gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. The relationship between dual-task gait speed and brain substrates also differed by mild cognitive impairment subtype. Our study revealed a pattern of gray matter regions associated with dual-task performance. Although dual-task gait performance was similar in amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment, the gray matter patterns associated with dual-task gait performance differed by mild cognitive impairment subtype. These findings suggest that the brain substrates supporting dual-task gait performance in amnestic and non-amnestic subtypes are different, and consequently may respond differently to interventions, or require different interventions.

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Functional connectivity associated with gait velocity during walking and walking‐while‐talking in aging: A resting‐state fMRI study

Cited by 112 publications

References 98 publications

Online fronto-cortical control of simple and attention-demanding locomotion in humans

Online fronto-cortical control of simple and attention-demanding locomotion in humans

Neurological Gait Abnormalities Moderate the Functional Brain Signature of the Posture First Hypothesis

Gray matter volume and dual-task gait performance in mild cognitive impairment

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