Dual-task Interference Disrupts Parkinson ’s Gait Across Multiple Cognitive Domains

Publication date: 21 May 2018 Source:Neuroscience, Volume 379 Author(s): Amanda L. Penko, Matthew C. Streicher, Mandy Miller Koop, Tanujit Dey, Anson B. Rosenfeldt, Andrew S. Bazyk, Jay L. Alberts Gait dysfunction, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, contributes to a relatively high incidence of falling. Gait function is further diminished during the performance of a motor-cognitive task (i.e., dual-task). It is unclear if Parkinson’s disease-related dual-task deficits are related to a specific area of cognitive function or are the result of a more global decline in executive function. The aim of this project was to systematically evaluate gait performance to determine if gait dysfunction is restricted to certain types of executive function or a global phenomenon in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Twenty-three individuals with mild-moderate Parkinson’s disease completed a series of dual-task conditions in which gait was paired with cognitive tasks requiring: working memory (0, 1, and 2-back), attention and problem solving (serial-7 subtraction), verbal memory (digit recall), semantic memory (Controlled Oral Word Association) and information processing speed (visual Stroop test). The results demonstrate that individuals with mild-moderate Parkinson’s disease have a generalized worsening of spatial–temporal gait parameters regardless of the specific cognitive demand being performed concurrently. Overall, gait velocity decreased (p < 0.01) an...
Source: Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research