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Brain activation during dual-task walking and executive function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a fNIRS study

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Abstract

Background and aims

Dual-task walking (DTW) is thought to involve activation of the prefrontal cortex in healthy adults and to be affected by cognitive impairment. However, it is unclear whether prefrontal cortex activation is involved in DTW in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. This study examined brain activation during DTW among older adults with mild cognitive impairment using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Methods

Sixteen older adults (aged 75.4 ± 7.2 years, women n = 6) performed gait experiments under normal walking and DTW conditions. We used a design with 60-s blocks consisting of a 10-s rest standing as pre-resting period, a 20-s walking task period, and a 30-s rest standing as post-resting period. Walking speed was measured during a 20-s walking task. Changes in oxy-hemoglobin were measured in the prefrontal area during gait experiments.

Results

Walking speed was slower during DTW compared with normal walking (p < 0.001). The oxy-hemoglobin level during DTW was higher than during normal walking (p < 0.001) and was correlated with executive function, as measured by Stroop interference (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that DTW is associated with prefrontal activation among older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The brain activation during DTW was correlated with executive function. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate the effects of cognitive impairment on the association between prefrontal activity and walking under various conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Obu city office for help with participant recruitment. This work was supported by a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up (22800093) to T.D. in Japan.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section for Health Promotion, Department for Research and Development to Support Independent Life of Elderly, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi, 474-8511, Japan

    Takehiko Doi, Hyuma Makizako, Hiroyuki Shimada, Kota Tsutsumimoto & Kazuki Uemura

  2. Section for Physical Functioning Activation, Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan

    Hyuntae Park

  3. Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan

    Kota Tsutsumimoto

  4. Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan

    Takao Suzuki

Authors
  1. Takehiko Doi
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  2. Hyuma Makizako
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  3. Hiroyuki Shimada
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  4. Hyuntae Park
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  5. Kota Tsutsumimoto
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  6. Kazuki Uemura
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  7. Takao Suzuki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takehiko Doi.

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Doi, T., Makizako, H., Shimada, H. et al. Brain activation during dual-task walking and executive function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a fNIRS study. Aging Clin Exp Res 25, 539–544 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0119-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0119-5

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