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Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Visuospatial cognition predicts performance on an obstructed vision obstacle walking task in older adults
Experimental gerontology, v 189, 112403
May 2024
PMID: 38490285
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Walking performance and cognitive function demonstrate strong associations in older adults, with both declining with advancing age. Walking requires the use of cognitive resources, particularly in complex environments like stepping over obstacles. A commonly implemented approach for measuring the cognitive control of walking is a dual-task walking assessment, in which walking is combined with a second task. However, dual-task assessments have shortcomings, including issues with scaling the task difficulty and controlling for task prioritization. Here we present a new assessment designed to be less susceptible to these shortcomings while still challenging cognitive control of walking: the Obstructed Vision Obstacle (OBVIO) task. During the task, participants hold a lightweight tray at waist level obstructing their view of upcoming foam blocks, which are intermittently spaced along a 10 m walkway. This forces the participants to use cognitive resources (e.g., attention and working memory) to remember the exact placement of upcoming obstacles to facilitate successful crossing. The results demonstrate that adding the obstructed vision board significantly slowed walking speed by an average of 0.26 m/s and increased the number of obstacle strikes by 8-fold in healthy older adults (n = 74). Additionally, OBVIO walking performance (a score based on both speed and number of obstacle strikes) significantly correlated with computer-based assessments of visuospatial working memory, attention, and verbal working memory. These results provide initial support that the OBVIO task is a feasible walking test that demands cognitive resources. This study lays the groundwork for using the OBVIO task in future assessment and intervention studies.
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Details
- Title
- Visuospatial cognition predicts performance on an obstructed vision obstacle walking task in older adults
- Creators
- Steven P WinesettSudeshna A Chatterjee - Drexel UniversityBrianne BorgiaBrigette A Cox - Malcom Randall VA Medical CenterKelly A Hawkins - Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USAJon W Miles - Malcom Randall VA Medical CenterClayton W SwansonJulia T Choi - Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USARachael D Seidler - Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USAEmily J FoxDavid J Clark
- Publication Details
- Experimental gerontology, v 189, 112403
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physical Therapy (and Rehabilitation Sciences)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001219282000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85188701640
- Other Identifier
- 991021863157704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Geriatrics & Gerontology