title: [A cross-sectional study on the relationship between the Trail Making Test and mobility-related functions in community-dwelling elderly].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Trail Making Test (TMT) has been studied in western countries as an indicator of executive function, but there are few data on the TMT in Japan. This study was conducted to assess the characteristics of TMT and to explore the effect of TMT on physical function among community-dwelling elderly Japanese to promote health in the aged.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were 175 individuals aged>or=65 years (57 men and 118 women). The TMT test which consists of two parts (part A and part B)was performed. 8 physical function items such as indicators of functional decline (usual walking speed, timed up-and-go (TUG), one-leg standing balance, and handgrip strength), and indicators of mobility (maximum walking speed, TUG with cup, stair-climbing, obstacle-negotiating gait) were measured. For this analysis, we used a difference score defined as TMT calculated as the difference between times (part B-part A=TMT). Data were analyzed by sex respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median TMT value was 58.61 seconds in men and 65.67 seconds in women. TMT value increased with age and there was no difference between men and women in absolute values. multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that poor TMT was related to low tertiles of TUG, handgrip strength, MWS, TUG with cup, stair-climbing and obstacle-negotiating gait, and to intermediate tertile of MWS with adjustment for age and sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TMT was significantly associated with mobility-related functions, suggesting that TMT, as the indicator of executive function, should be considered to be included in the test batteries for evaluating older people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene & Public Health, Osaka Medical College.
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Misuzu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kono
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D014145:Trail Making Test; D016138:Walking