Prefrontal Cortex Involvement during Dual-Task Stair Climbing in Healthy Older Adults: An fNIRS Study

Abstract

Executive function and motor control deficits adversely affect gait performance with age, but the neural correlates underlying this interaction during stair climbing remains unclear. Twenty older adults (72.7 ± 6.9 years) completed single tasks: standing and responding to a response time task (SC), ascending or descending stairs (SMup, SMdown); and a dual-task: responding while ascending or descending stairs (DTup, DTdown). Prefrontal hemodynamic response changes (∆HbO2, ∆HbR) were examined using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), gait speed was measured using in-shoe smart insoles, and vocal response time and accuracy were recorded. Findings revealed increased ∆HbO2 (p = 0.020) and slower response times (p < 0.001) during dual- versus single tasks. ∆HbR (p = 0.549), accuracy (p = 0.135) and gait speed (p = 0.475) were not significantly different between tasks or stair climbing conditions. ∆HbO2 and response time findings suggest that executive processes are less efficient during dual-tasks. These findings, in addition to gait speed and accuracy maintenance, may provide insights into the neural changes that precede performance declines. To capture the subtle differences between stair ascent and descent and extend our understanding of the neural correlates of stair climbing in older adults, future studies should examine more difficult cognitive tasks.

Unraveling the Cognitive-Motor Interaction in Individuals With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

“…26,33 However, in healthy older adults, stair ascent and descent may not be associated with different cognitive load. 43 In agreement, a previous work by Gaillardin and Baudry 14 did not report a difference in DTC between ascent and descent.…”

A Review of the Measurement of the Neurology of Gait in Cognitive Dysfunction or Dementia, Focusing on the Application of fNIRS during Dual-Task Gait Assessment

“…Salzman et al [ 55 ] investigated the neural mechanisms underlying the interactions between gait performance, age, and deficits in executive function and motor control during stair climbing. Their study involved 20 men and women (mean age 73 years) from a community in Canada.…”

Cerebral hemodynamics response to dual-task paradigms in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The copyright holder for this this version posted November 11, 2022. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.08.22282071 doi: medRxiv preprint in 3 studies (Marusic et al, 2019, St George et al, 2021, Rosso et al, 2017, arm tracking in 1 study (Corp et al, 2018), and stair climbing in 1 study (Salzman et al, 2021a). For dual-task paradigm, cognitive tasks were performed as follows: 19 studies (Chaparro et al, 2017, Chen et al, 2017, George et al, 2019, Hernandez et al, 2016, Hoang et al, 2022, Holtzer et al, 2018, Holtzer et al, 2019a, Holtzer et al, 2019b, Holtzer et al, 2011, Holtzer et al, 2022, Ross et al, 2021, Wagshul et al, 2019, Rosso et al, 2017, Salzman et al, 2021a, Salzman et al, 2021b, Beurskens et al, 2014, Corp et al, 2018, Hernandez et al, 2020, Marusic et al, 2019, Pakray et al, 2021, Stuart et al, 2019, Talamonti et al, 2022, Chen et al, 2022, Hassan et al, 2020, Hawkins et al, 2018) used inhibitory control tasks (i.e., alternate letters of alphabet and auditory choice reaction), 14 studies (Hassan et al, 2020, Hawkins et al, 2018, Hoang et al, 2022, Maidan et al, 2016, Maruya et al, 2021, Mirelman et al, 2017, Teo et al, 2021…”

“…4 studies (Beurskens et al, 2014, Holtzer et al, 2019b, Holtzer et al, 2022 out of the 33 studies (12%) demonstrated an unclear risk in the domain of confounding. 5 studies (15%) showed a high risk of bias in the classification of interventions (Corp et al, 2018, Marusic et al, 2019, Rosso et al, 2017, Salzman et al, 2021a, St George et al, 2021. 2 studies (6%) showed a high risk of bias in selection of the reported results (Rosso et al, 2017, Teo et al, 2021.…”