Impaired choice stepping in response to a visual-spatial attention demanding task among older adults at high risk of falling: a pilot study

摘要

Background and aims: Impairment in visual-spatial attention can cause difficulties in planning and guiding movements, leading to falls in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between visual-spatial attention during movement and the risk of falling in older adults. Methods: Thirty-six elderly volunteers (mean age, 73.2 +/- 6.8 years) performed a rapid choice stepping task in response to flanker task stimuli. Step errors in congruent or incongruent conditions were recorded as a measure of the accuracy of choice stepping. Four clinical measurements were also assessed: 10-min walking time, timed up and go test, functional reach test and 5-chair stand test. Results: High-risk (HR) participants showed a significantly higher rate of step errors in the incongruent condition than low-risk (LR) ones (HR: 55.5%, LR: 18.5%; p =0.032). Step error in the incongruent condition [odds ratio (OR)=5.5; p=0.041] was the only independent variable which remained significant in the final step of the logistic regression model. Conclusion: Impaired choice stepping in response to a visual-spatial attention-demanding task was associated with the risk of falling in older adults. (C) 2012, Editrice Kurtis