title: Identifying Mobility Types in Cognitively Heterogeneous Older Adults Based on GPS-Tracking: What Discriminates Best?
abstract: Heterogeneity in older adults' mobility and its correlates have rarely been investigated based on objective mobility data and in samples including cognitively impaired individuals. We analyzed mobility profiles within a cognitively heterogeneous sample of N = 257 older adults from Israel and Germany based on GPS tracking technology. Participants were aged between 59 and 91 years (M = 72.9; SD = 6.4) and were either cognitively healthy (CH, n = 146), mildly cognitively impaired (MCI, n = 76), or diagnosed with an early-stage dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT, n = 35). Based on cluster analysis, we identified three mobility types ("Mobility restricted," "Outdoor oriented," "Walkers"), which could be predicted based on socio-demographic indicators, activity, health, and cognitive impairment status using discriminant analysis. Particularly demented individuals and persons with worse health exhibited restrictions in mobility. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of heterogeneity in mobility in old age.
authors.affiliation: Heidelberg University, Germany markus.wettstein@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wettstein
authors.affiliation: Heidelberg University, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Werner
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.affiliation: Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shoval
authors.affiliation: Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Auslander
authors.affiliation: Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oswald
authors.affiliation: Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Jeremia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinik
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: GPS technology; dementia; mild cognitive impairment; mobility; old age