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Journal article
Brain activation in high-functioning older adults and falls: Prospective cohort study
Neurology, v 88(2), pp 191-197
10 Jan 2017
PMID: 27927937
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
To determine whether brain activity over the prefrontal cortex measured in real time during walking predicts falls in high-functioning older adults.
We examined166 older persons (mean age 75 years, 51% women) enrolled in a prospective aging study. High-functioning status defined as the absence of dementia or disability with normal gait diagnosed by study clinicians. The magnitude of task-related changes in oxygenated hemoglobin levels over the prefrontal cortex was measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy during motor (walking at normal pace) and cognitive (reciting alternate letters of the alphabet) single tasks and a dual-task condition (walking while reciting alternate letters of the alphabet). Incident falls were prospectively assessed over a 50-month study period.
Over a mean follow-up of 33.9 ± 11.9 months, 116 falls occurred. Higher levels of prefrontal cortical activation during the dual-task walking condition predicted falls (hazard ratio adjusted for age, sex, education, medical illnesses and general mental status 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.70). Neither behavioral outcomes (velocity or letter rate) on the dual task nor brain activation patterns on the single tasks (normal walk or talk alone) predicted falls in this high-functioning sample. The results remained robust after accounting for multiple confounders and for cognitive status, slow gait, previous falls, and frailty.
Prefrontal brain activity levels while performing a cognitively demanding walking condition predicted falls in high-functioning seniors. These findings implicate neurobiological processes early in the pathogenesis of falls.
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Details
- Title
- Brain activation in high-functioning older adults and falls: Prospective cohort study
- Creators
- Joe VergheseCuiling Wang - Albert Einstein College of MedicineEmmeline Ayers - Albert Einstein College of MedicineMeltem Izzetoglu - Drexel UniversityRoee Holtzer
- Publication Details
- Neurology, v 88(2), pp 191-197
- Grant note
- R01 AG036921 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG044007 / NIA NIH HHS UL1 TR001073 / NCATS NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000396561500017
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85009104990
- Other Identifier
- 991021864307304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Clinical Neurology