title: Analysis of Choice Stepping with Visual Interference Can Detect Prolonged Postural Preparation in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment at High Risk of Falling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to clarify postural control deficits in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at high risk of falling by addressing the inhibitory process.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved 376 community-dwelling older adults with MCI. Participants were instructed to execute forward stepping on the side indicated by the central arrow while ignoring the 2 flanking arrows on each side (→→→→→, congruent, or →→←→→, incongruent). Initial weight transfer direction errors [anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) errors], step execution times, and divided phases (reaction, APA, and swing phases) were measured from vertical force data. Participants were categorized as fallers (n = 37) and non-fallers (n = 339) based on fall experiences in the last 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the step execution times, swing phases, step error rates, and APA error rates between groups, but fallers had a significantly longer APA phase relative to non-fallers in trials of the incongruent condition with APA errors (p = 0.005). Fallers also had a longer reaction phase in trials with the correct APA, regardless of the condition (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analyses of choice stepping with visual interference can detect prolonged postural preparation as a specific falling-associated deficit in older adults with MCI.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Innovation for Future Society, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tougou
authors.forename: Takahashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shuhei
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology