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Misaghian K, Lugo JE, Faubert J. Immediate fall prevention: the missing key to a comprehensive solution for falling hazard in older adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1348712. [PMID: 38638191 PMCID: PMC11024377 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1348712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The world is witnessing an unprecedented demographic shift due to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates. By 2050, 20% of the global population will be over 60, presenting significant challenges like a shortage of caregivers, maintaining health and independence, and funding extended retirement. The technology that caters to the needs of older adults and their caregivers is the most promising candidate to tackle these issues. Although multiple companies and startups offer various aging solutions, preventive technology, which could prevent trauma, is not a big part of it. Trauma is the leading cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality in older adults, and statistics constitute traumatic fall accidents as its leading cause. Therefore, an immediate preventive technology that anticipates an accident on time and prevents it must be the first response to this hazard category to decrease the gap between life expectancy and the health/wellness expectancy of older adults. The article outlines the challenges of the upcoming aging crisis and introduces falls as one major challenge. After that, falls and their mechanisms are investigated, highlighting the cognitive functions and their relation to falls. Moreover, since understanding predictive cognitive mechanisms is critical to an effective prediction-interception design, they are discussed in more detail, signifying the role of cognitive decline in balance maintenance. Furthermore, the landscape of available solutions for falling and its shortcomings is inspected. Finally, immediate fall prevention, the missing part of a wholesome solution, and its barriers are introduced, and some promising methodologies are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khashayar Misaghian
- Sage-Sentinel Smart Solutions, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan
- OIST Innovation, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
- Faubert Lab, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jesus Eduardo Lugo
- Sage-Sentinel Smart Solutions, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan
- Faubert Lab, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Jocelyn Faubert
- Sage-Sentinel Smart Solutions, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan
- Faubert Lab, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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2
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Miwa T, Richardson JK, Murphy SL, Ellmers TJ, Miwa Y, Maeda T, Hanai T, Shimizu M. Short-latency reaction time and accuracy are impaired in patients with cirrhosis: An international multicenter retrospective study. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24:25-31. [PMID: 37973613 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
AIM The inability to quickly react to an external event can lead to an increased risk for accidents (e.g., falls, car crashes) in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether a novel clinically feasible measure of simple reaction time (SRT) and reaction accuracy (RA)-a go/no-go task occurring within 400 ms-could differentiate patients with cirrhosis from controls. METHODS This retrospective study included 160 patients with cirrhosis and 160 controls assessed between January 2010 and October 2022. SRT and RA were evaluated using a ruler drop paradigm and compared using propensity score matching. Factors distinguishing patients with cirrhosis from controls were assessed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analyses. RESULTS Propensity score matching identified 112 participants in each group with comparable baseline characteristics. As compared with controls, patients with cirrhosis exhibited significantly prolonged SRT (200 vs. 174 ms; P < 0.001) and diminished total RA (63% vs. 73%; P < 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors, SRT and RA independently identified patients with cirrhosis. ROC analyses showed that SRT more effectively identified patients with cirrhosis than did the number-connection test/trail-making test-B (area under the curve, 0.87 vs. 0.60; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with cirrhosis demonstrated impairments in short-latency cognitive function. Given that SRT and RA are associated with balance, falls, and response to perturbation, these parameters may present a task-specific method to identify patients with cirrhosis at high risk of falls and motor vehicle crashes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 25-31.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takao Miwa
- Department of Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Health Administration Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - James K Richardson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Susan L Murphy
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Toby J Ellmers
- Department of Brain Sciences, Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Yoshiyuki Miwa
- Miwa Clinic, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gifu, Japan
| | - Teruo Maeda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nishimino Kosei Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Hanai
- Department of Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Masahito Shimizu
- Department of Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
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McNeish BL, Dittus K, Mossburg J, Krant N, Steinharter JA, Feb K, Cote H, Hehir MK, Reynolds R, Redfern MS, Rosano C, Richardson JK, Kolb N. Executive function is associated with balance and falls in older cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy: A cross-sectional study. J Geriatr Oncol 2023; 14:101637. [PMID: 37776612 PMCID: PMC10841675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2023.101637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Balance decrements and increased fall risk in older cancer survivors have been attributed to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Cognition is also affected by chemotherapy and may be an additional contributing factor to poor balance through changes in executive functioning. We examined the association of executive function with balance and falls in older cancer survivors who had been treated with chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty cancer survivors (aged 65.6 ± 11.5 years; 88% female) who were all treated with chemotherapy were included in this cross-sectional study at a tertiary medical center. Executive function was measured by Trails-B, Stroop, and rapid reaction accuracy, a measure emphasizing rapid inhibitory function. Balance was measured by five sit-to-stand time (5STS), repetitions of sit-to-stand in thirty seconds (STS30), and unipedal stance time (UST), which was the primary balance outcome measure. Self-reported falls in the past year were also recorded and was a secondary outcome. Bivariate analyses were conducted between executive function measures and balance variables. Multivariable models were constructed for UST and falls outcomes and included covariates of age and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy status. RESULTS Pearson correlations demonstrated significant relationships between two executive function measures (rapid reaction accuracy, Trails-B) and all the balance measures assessed (UST, STS30, and 5STS). Rapid reaction accuracy correlations were stronger than Trails-B. The Stroop measure correlated solely with UST. In multivariable models, rapid reaction accuracy was associated with better UST (standardized regression coefficient: 64.1, p < 0.01), decreased any fall (odds ratio = 0.000901, p = 0.04), and decreased recurrent falls (odds ratio = 0.0000044, p = 0.01). The interaction of CIPN with the inhibitory measures in the prediction of balance was not significant. DISCUSSION Measures of executive function were associated with balance, but among the executive function tests, rapid reaction accuracy had the strongest correlations to balance and was independently associated with falls. The findings suggest that executive function should be considered when assessing fall risk and developing interventions intended to reduce fall risk in older chemotherapy-treated cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan L McNeish
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Kim Dittus
- University of Vermont Cancer Center, Burlington, VT, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Jurdan Mossburg
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Nicholas Krant
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - John A Steinharter
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Kendall Feb
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Hunter Cote
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Michael K Hehir
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | | | - Mark S Redfern
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Caterina Rosano
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - James K Richardson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Noah Kolb
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
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Bolton DAE, Baggett CC, Mitton CA, Harper SA, Richardson JK. Suppressing a Blocked Balance Recovery Step: A Novel Method to Assess an Inhibitory Postural Response. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1488. [PMID: 37891855 PMCID: PMC10605013 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Stepping to recover balance is an important way we avoid falling. However, when faced with obstacles in the step path, we must adapt such reactions. Physical obstructions are typically detected through vision, which then cues step modification. The present study describes a novel method to assess visually prompted step inhibition in a reactive balance context. In our task, participants recovered balance by quickly stepping after being released from a supported forward lean. On rare trials, however, an obstacle blocked the stepping path. The timing of vision relative to postural perturbation was controlled using occlusion goggles to regulate task difficulty. Furthermore, we explored step suppression in our balance task related to inhibitory capacity measured at the hand using a clinically feasible handheld device (ReacStick). Our results showed that ReacStick and step outcomes were significantly correlated in terms of successful inhibition (r = 0.57) and overall reaction accuracy (r = 0.76). This study presents a novel method for assessing rapid inhibition in a dynamic postural context, a capacity that appears to be a necessary prerequisite to a subsequent adaptive strategy. Moreover, this capacity is significantly related to ReacStick performance, suggesting a potential clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. E. Bolton
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA; (C.C.B.IV); (C.A.M.); (S.A.H.)
- Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Charlie C. Baggett
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA; (C.C.B.IV); (C.A.M.); (S.A.H.)
| | - Chase A. Mitton
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA; (C.C.B.IV); (C.A.M.); (S.A.H.)
| | - Sara A. Harper
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA; (C.C.B.IV); (C.A.M.); (S.A.H.)
- Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
- Kinesiology Department, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
| | - James K. Richardson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
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O'Dowd A, Hirst RJ, Setti A, Donoghue OA, Kenny RA, Newell FN. The temporal precision of audiovisual integration is associated with longitudinal fall incidents but not sensorimotor fall risk in older adults. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7167. [PMID: 37137879 PMCID: PMC10156851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32404-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustained multisensory integration over long inter-stimulus time delays is typically found in older adults, particularly those with a history of falls. However, the extent to which the temporal precision of audio-visual integration is associated with longitudinal fall or fall risk trajectories is unknown. A large sample of older adults (N = 2319) were grouped into longitudinal trajectories of self-reported fall incidents (i.e., decrease, stable, or increase in number) and, separately, their performance on a standard, objective measure of fall risk, Timed Up and Go (TUG; stable, moderate decline, severe decline). Multisensory integration was measured once as susceptibility to the Sound-Induced Flash Illusion (SIFI) across three stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs): 70 ms, 150 ms and 230 ms. Older adults with an increasing fall number showed a significantly different pattern of performance on the SIFI than non-fallers, depending on age: For adults with increasing incidents of falls, those aged 53-59 years showed a much smaller difference in illusion susceptibility at 70 ms versus 150 ms than those aged 70 + years. In contrast, non-fallers showed a more comparable difference between these SOA conditions across age groups. There was no association between TUG performance trajectories and SIFI susceptibility. These findings suggests that a fall event is associated with distinct temporal patterns of multisensory integration in ageing and have implications for our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning brain health in older age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan O'Dowd
- School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland.
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Rebecca J Hirst
- School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Annalisa Setti
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Orna A Donoghue
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rose Anne Kenny
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Mercer Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona N Newell
- School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
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Patelaki E, Foxe JJ, Mantel EP, Kassis G, Freedman EG. Paradoxical improvement of cognitive control in older adults under dual-task walking conditions is associated with more flexible reallocation of neural resources: A Mobile Brain-Body Imaging (MoBI) study. Neuroimage 2023; 273:120098. [PMID: 37037381 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Combining walking with a demanding cognitive task is traditionally expected to elicit decrements in gait and/or cognitive task performance. However, it was recently shown that, in a cohort of young adults, most participants improved performance when walking was added to performance of a Go/NoGo response inhibition task. The present study aims to extend these previous findings to an older adult cohort, to investigate whether this improvement when dual-tasking is observed in healthy older adults. Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) was used to record electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, three-dimensional (3D) gait kinematics and behavioral responses in the Go/NoGo task, during sitting or walking on a treadmill, in 34 young adults and 37 older adults. Increased response accuracy during walking, independent of age, was found to correlate with slower responses to stimuli (r = 0.44) and with walking-related EEG amplitude modulations over frontocentral regions (r = 0.47) during the sensory gating (N1) and conflict monitoring (N2) stages of inhibition, and over left-lateralized prefrontal regions (r = 0.47) during the stage of inhibitory control implementation. These neural activity changes are related to the cognitive component of inhibition, and they were interpreted as signatures of behavioral improvement during walking. On the other hand, aging, independent of response accuracy during walking, was found to correlate with slower treadmill walking speeds (r = -0.68) and attenuation in walking-related EEG amplitude modulations over left-dominant frontal (r = -0.44) and parietooccipital regions (r = 0.48) during the N2 stage, and over centroparietal regions (r = 0.48) during the P3 stage. These neural activity changes are related to the motor component of inhibition, and they were interpreted as signatures of aging. Older adults whose response accuracy 'paradoxically' improved during walking manifested neural signatures of both behavioral improvement and aging, suggesting that their flexibility in reallocating neural resources while walking might be maintained for the cognitive but not for the motor inhibitory component. These distinct neural signatures of aging and behavior can potentially be used to identify 'super-agers', or individuals at risk for cognitive decline due to aging or neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Patelaki
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, 201 Robert B. Goergen Hall Rochester, New York, 14627, USA
| | - John J Foxe
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
| | - Emma P Mantel
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - George Kassis
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Edward G Freedman
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
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Faes Y, Rolli Salathé C, Herlig ML, Elfering A. Beyond physiology: Acute effects of side-alternating whole-body vibration on well-being, flexibility, balance, and cognition using a light and portable platform A randomized controlled trial. Front Sports Act Living 2023; 5:1090119. [PMID: 36793620 PMCID: PMC9922907 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1090119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A good body-balance helps to prevent slips, trips and falls. New body-balance interventions must be explored, because effective methods to implement daily training are sparse. The purpose of the current study was to investigate acute effects of side-alternating whole-body vibration (SS-WBV) training on musculoskeletal well-being, flexibility, body balance, and cognition. In this randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly allocated into a verum (8.5 Hz, SS-WBV, N = 28) or sham (6 Hz, SS-WBV, N = 27) condition. The training consisted of three SS-WBV series that lasted one-minute each with two one-minute breaks in between. During the SS-WBV series, participants stood in the middle of the platform with slightly bent knees. During the breaks in between, participants could loosen up. Flexibility (modified fingertip-to-floor method), balance (modified Star Excursion Balance Test), and cognitive interference (Stroop Color Word Test) were tested before and after the exercise. Also, musculoskeletal well-being, muscle relaxation, sense of flexibility, sense of balance, and surefootedness were assessed in a questionnaire before and after the exercise. Musculoskeletal well-being was significantly increased only after verum. Also, muscle relaxation was significantly higher only after verum. The Flexibility-Test showed significant improvement after both conditions. Accordingly, sense of flexibility was significantly increased after both conditions. The Balance-Test showed significant improvement after verum, and after sham. Accordingly, increased sense of balance was significant after both conditions. However, surefootedness was significantly higher only after verum. The Stroop-Test showed significant improvement only after verum. The current study shows that one SS-WBV training session increases musculoskeletal well-being, flexibility, body balance and cognition. The abundance of improvements on a light and portable platform has great influence on the practicability of training in daily life, aiming to prevent slip trips and falls at work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannik Faes
- Business Psychology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland.,Faculty of Psychology, Distance University, Brig, Switzerland.,Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Rolli Salathé
- Faculty of Psychology, Distance University, Brig, Switzerland.,Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marina Luna Herlig
- Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Achim Elfering
- Faculty of Psychology, Distance University, Brig, Switzerland.,Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Park SY, Schott N. Which motor-cognitive abilities underlie the digital Trail-Making Test? Decomposing various test scores to detect cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease-Pilot study. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2022:1-15. [PMID: 36412487 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2147837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Since Parkinson's disease (PD) is a heterogeneous disorder with symptoms, such as tremors, gait and speech disturbances, or memory loss, individualized diagnostics are needed to optimize treatment. In their current form, the typical paper-pencil methods traditionally used to track disease progression are too coarse to capture the subtleties of clinical phenomena. For this reason, digital biomarkers that capture, for example, motor function, cognition, and behavior using apps, wearables, and tracking systems are becoming increasingly established. However, given the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in PD, digital cognitive biomarkers to predict mental progression are important in clinical practice. This pilot study aimed to identify those components of our digital version of the TMT (dTMT) that allow discrimination between PD patients with and without cognitive deficits. A total of 30 healthy control (age 66.3 ± 8.61) and 30 participants with PD (age 68.3 ± 9.66) performed the dTMT using a touch-sensitive tablet to capture enhanced performance metrics, such as the speed between and inside circles. The decomposition of cognitive abilities based on integrating additional variables in the dTMT revealed that the Parkinson's disease group was significantly more sensitive to parameters of inhibitory control. In contrast, the mild cognitive impairment group was sensitive to parameters of cognitive flexibility and working memory. The dTMT allows objective, ecologically valid, and long-term cognitive and fine-motor performance tracking, suggesting its potential as a digital biomarker in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Yong Park
- Department of Sport Psychology & Human Movement Performance, Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nadja Schott
- Department of Sport Psychology & Human Movement Performance, Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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