Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 1 , Pages 50-53, January 2007

Walking While Talking: Effect of Task Prioritization in the Elderly

  • Joe Verghese, MBBS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Joe Verghese, MBBS, Einstein Aging Study, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1165 Morris Park Ave, Rm 338, Bronx, NY 10461.
    • ,
  • Gail Kuslansky, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
    • ,
  • Roee Holtzer, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
    • Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
    • ,
  • Mindy Katz, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
    • ,
  • Xiaonan Xue, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
    • ,
  • Herman Buschke, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
    • ,
  • Marco Pahor, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Abstract 

Verghese J, Kuslansky G, Holtzer R, Katz M, Xue X, Buschke H, Pahor M. Walking while talking: effect of task prioritization in the elderly.

Objective

To examine the effect of 2 instructions on the same walking while talking (WWT) task on task prioritization by nondisabled subjects.

Design

Cross-sectional survey with within subject comparisons.

Setting

Community-based sample.

Participants

Older adults (N=189; mean age, 80.2±4.9y), who did not meet criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, for dementia and were able to independently perform activities of daily living.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Verbal and gait measures on the same WWT task with 2 different instructions: paying attention to both talking and walking (WWT-C) and paying attention only to talking (WWT-T).

Results

Task prioritization effects were seen on walking but not on talking. Compared with their baseline normal walking velocity (without talking), subjects slowed down more on WWT-T (median change, 28.3%) than WWT-C (median change, 26.4%). Comparing the 2 WWT conditions, velocity and cadence was slower during WWT-T compared with WWT-C, with longer stride length. Verbal output was not significantly different on the 2 conditions.

Conclusions

Changing instructions while maintaining the same cognitive and motor tasks on WWT in older adults result in task prioritization effects.

Key Words: Attention, Elderly, Rehabilitation, Walking

 

 Supported by the National Institutes on Aging (grant nos. AGO3949, NIA-K23 AG024848, RO1 AGO25119).No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(06)01375-X

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2006.10.007

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 1 , Pages 50-53, January 2007

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