Association between a history of falls and the ability to multi-task in community-dwelling older people

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research Vol. 22; no. 5-6; pp. 427 - 432
• Main Authors: Makizako, Hyuma, Furuna, Taketo, Shimada, Hiroyuki, Ihira, Hikaru, Kimura, Mika, Uchiyama, Eiichi, Oddsson, Lars I. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.10.2010; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Older people; Original Article; Postural Balance; Reaction Time; Task Performance and Analysis; Cognitive Demand; Quiet Standing; Balance Demand; Secondary Task; Gait Variability
• ISSN: 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03337738

Background and aims: Many older people fall when they perform tasks which require increased attention. The aim of this study was to determine differences in reaction times, during simple-, dual- and triple-task conditions requiring differing levels of motor coordination, balance control and cognitive attention, between groups of fallers and non-fallers in community-dwelling older individuals. Methods: The study involved the recruitment of 87 older individuals living at home, 57 women and 30 men aged 75 to 91 years. Reaction times, measured by pushing a handheld button as quickly as possible in response to a visual stimulus, were measured in four conditions: 1) quiet standing (simple-task); 2) counting backward during quiet standing (dual-task with cognitive demand); 3) stepping in place (dual-task with balance demand); and 4) counting backward while stepping in place (triple-task with cognitive and balance demands). Results: Twenty-nine (33.3%) participants had fallen at least once during the past year. There were no statistically significant differences in reaction times between non-fallers and fallers during any of the tasks. Reaction times were significantly longer during the dual- and triple-tasks compared with the simple-task conditions in both groups. The ratio between reaction times during dual-tasks with balance demands (stepping in place) and those in the simple-task condition were significantly related to a history of falls and showed the highest odds ratio (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.06–9.45, p =0.04). Conclusions: Relative changes in reaction times during a dual-task with balance demands were related to a history of falls in community-dwelling older individuals. Reaction times in dual-task conditions with a balance demand were more sensitive to past falls than those during a dual-task with cognitive demands.