Abstract

Falls are the most significant cause of accidental death among older adults in the United States. Previous research from our lab as well as others has shown that stance balance control is significantly affected in balance-impaired older adults when simultaneously performing a secondary cognitive task. Most of the previous dual task research in balance impaired subjects has been limited to the study of balance control during stance; thus the effect of performing a secondary task on stability during challenges to gait is not known for this population. In light of results from research on stance balance control in balance impaired elders, one would predict that in this population, the ability to maintain stability during obstacle avoidance tasks in gait would be greatly decreased under dual task conditions.
Specific Aim 1 examines the role of attention in postural recovery in the activity in which most falls occur, locomotion. Experiments are designed to determine the relative contributions of age (comparing young vs healthy older adults) and balance impairment (healthy vs balance impaired older adults) on balance during obstacle avoidance in dual task conditions. In addition experiments are designed to test three alternative hypotheses regarding the mechanisms contributing to age-related reductions in balance abilities in dual task situations: 1) reduced ability to allocate attention, 2) reduced general attentional capacity, or 3) postural deficits requiring increased attentional resources.
Specific Aim 2 applies research on attentional demands of postural control to clinical methods for assessing and training stability in older adults. The first experiment is a longitudinal study to investigate the predictive capability of single versus dual task clinical measures of balance in identifying older adults who will develop balance problems within the next three years. The second experiment will compare the effects of single versus dual task training on stability in balance impaired older adults.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG021598-02
Application #
7119215
Study Section
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section (MRS)
Program Officer
Monjan, Andrew A
Project Start
2005-09-15
Project End
2010-07-31
Budget Start
2006-08-01
Budget End
2007-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$372,555
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Oregon
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
948117312
City
Eugene
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97403

  Publications

Little, C Elaine; Woollacott, Marjorie (2015) EEG measures reveal dual-task interference in postural performance in young adults. Exp Brain Res 233:27-37
Elaine Little, C; Woollacott, Marjorie (2014) Effect of attentional interference on balance recovery in older adults. Exp Brain Res 232:2049-60
Fujimoto, Masahiro; Hsu, Wei-Li; Woollacott, Marjorie H et al. (2013) Ankle dorsiflexor strength relates to the ability to restore balance during a backward support surface translation. Gait Posture 38:812-7
Hawkes, Teresa D; Siu, Ka-Chun; Silsupadol, Patima et al. (2012) Why does older adults' balance become less stable when walking and performing a secondary task? Examination of attentional switching abilities. Gait Posture 35:159-63
Siu, Ka-Chun; Chou, Li-Shan; Mayr, Ulrich et al. (2009) Attentional mechanisms contributing to balance constraints during gait: the effects of balance impairments. Brain Res 1248:59-67
Silsupadol, Patima; Lugade, Vipul; Shumway-Cook, Anne et al. (2009) Training-related changes in dual-task walking performance of elderly persons with balance impairment: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Gait Posture 29:634-9
Silsupadol, Patima; Shumway-Cook, Anne; Lugade, Vipul et al. (2009) Effects of single-task versus dual-task training on balance performance in older adults: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 90:381-7
Siu, Ka-Chun; Chou, Li-Shan; Mayr, Ulrich et al. (2008) Does inability to allocate attention contribute to balance constraints during gait in older adults? J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 63:1364-9
Siu, Ka Chun; Lugade, Vipul; Chou, Li Shan et al. (2008) Dual-task interference during obstacle clearance in healthy and balance-impaired older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 20:349-54
Siu, Ka-Chun; Catena, Robert D; Chou, Li-Shan et al. (2008) Effects of a secondary task on obstacle avoidance in healthy young adults. Exp Brain Res 184:115-20

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