title: Dual task performance in older adults: Examining visual discrimination performance whilst treadmill walking at preferred and non-preferred speeds.
abstract: This study examined visual discrimination performance in a sample of older adults before, during and post treadmill walking at preferred walking speed and preferred walking speed +20%. Nine adults (6 females and 3 males) aged 60-77 years (mean age=67.1±5.7 years) undertook three trials each lasting 15 min, rest, walking at preferred speed and walking at preferred speed +20%. Pre, during and post each condition, participants undertook measures of visual-cognitive performance. There were no significant main effects or higher order interactions for condition (rest, vs. walking preferred speed, vs. walking preferred speed +20%) or time (pre, during, post) (all P>0.05). There was a significant condition X time interaction for response time (P=0.014, partial ɳ(2)=0.352). Post hoc analysis indicated that response times were significantly faster during exercise at preferred speed compared to pre exercise at preferred speed (P=0.042). Response times were significantly slower during walking at preferred speed +20% compared to pre exercise (P=0.002) and to post exercise (P=0.012). Response times were significantly faster during PSW compared to during rest (P=0.05), during PSW compared to during PSW20 (P=0.001) and significantly slower during PSW20 compared to during rest (P=0.001). Post PSW20 response times were significantly slower than post PSW (P=0.04). These results suggest that visual discrimination performance is facilitated when walking at preferred speeds but walking at 20% faster than preferred speed significantly impedes visual discrimination in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Sciences, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: michael.duncan@coventry.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Sciences, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: apx299@coventry.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Sciences, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: ab1633@coventry.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Sciences, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: ab2223@coventry.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Emma L J
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Eyre
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Sciences, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: ssx398@coventry.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sheila Leddington
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Ageing; Cognitive performance; Dual-task processing; Exercise