Journal article
Interactive Cognitive-Motor Step Training Improves Cognitive Risk Factors of Falling in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
PLoS One, Vol.10(12), e0145161
2015
Abstract
Purpose: Interactive cognitive-motor training (ICMT) requires individuals to perform both gross motor movements and complex information processing. This study investigated the effectiveness of ICMT on cognitive functions associated with falls in older adults. Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in community-dwelling older adults (N = 90, mean age 81.5±7) without major cognitive impairment. Participants in the intervention group (IG) played four stepping games that required them to divide attention, inhibit irrelevant stimuli, switch between tasks, rotate objects and make rapid decisions. The recommended minimum dose was three 20-minute sessions per week over a period of 16 weeks unsupervised at home. Participants in the control group (CG) received an evidence-based brochure on fall prevention. Measures of processing speed, attention/executive function (EF), visuo-spatial ability, concerns about falling and depression were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Eighty-one participants (90%) attended re-assessment. There were no improvements with respect to the Stroop Stepping Test (primary outcome) in the intervention group. Compared to the CG, the IG improved significantly in measures of processing speed, visuo-spatial ability and concern about falling. Significant interactions were observed for measures of EF and divided attention, indicating group differences varied for different levels of the covariate with larger improvements in IG participants with poorer baseline performance. The interaction for depression showed no change for the IG but an increase in the CG for those with low depressive symptoms at baseline. Additionally, low and high-adherer groups differed in their baseline performance and responded differently to the intervention. Compared to high adherers, low adherers improved more in processing speed and visual scanning while high-adherers improved more in tasks related to EF. Conclusions: This study shows that unsupervised stepping ICMT led to improvements in specific cognitive functions associated with falls in older people. Low adherers improved in less complex functions while high-adherers improved in EF.
Details
- Title
- Interactive Cognitive-Motor Step Training Improves Cognitive Risk Factors of Falling in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Authors
- Daniel Schoene (Author) - University of New South WalesTrinidad Valenzuela (Author) - University of New South WalesBarbara Toson (Author) - University of New South WalesKim Delbaere (Author) - University of New South WalesConnie Severino (Author) - University of New South WalesJaime Garcia (Author) - University of Technology SydneyThomas A Davies (Author) - University of New South WalesFrances Russell (Author)Stuart T Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringStephen R Lord (Author) - University of New South Wales
- Publication details
- PLoS One, Vol.10(12), e0145161; 18
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0145161
- ISSN
- 1932-6203; 1932-6203
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2015 Schoene et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449376402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
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- Geriatrics & Gerontology
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