title: Different cognitive functions discriminate gait performance in younger and older women: A pilot study.
abstract: Cognitive dysfunction is associated with slower gait speed in older women, but whether cognitive function affects gait performance earlier in life has yet to be investigated. Thus, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that cognitive function will discriminate gait performance in healthy younger women.
  
  
  
  Fast-pace and dual-task gait speed were measured in 30 young to middle-aged (30-45y) and 26 older (61-80y) women without mild cognitive impairment. Visuoperceptual ability, working memory, executive function, and learning ability were assessed using neuropsychological tests. Within each age group, women were divided by the median into lower and higher cognitive function groups to compare gait performance.
  
  
  
  Younger women with higher visuoperceptual ability had faster fast-pace (2.25±0.30 vs. 1.98±0.18m/s, p≤0.01) and dual-task gait speed (2.02±0.27 vs. 1.69±0.25m/s, p≤0.01) than women with lower visuoperceptual ability. The difference in dual-task gait speed remained significant (p=0.02) after adjusting for age, years of education, and other covariates. Dividing younger women based on other cognitive domains showed no difference in gait performance. In contrast, working memory and executive function discriminated dual-task gait speed (p<0.05) in older women after adjusting for age and education.
  
  
  
  To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that poorer cognitive function even at a relatively young age can negatively impact mobility. Different cognitive functions discriminated gait performance based on age, highlighting a possible influence of aging in the relationship between cognitive function and mobility in women.
authors: Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43011, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3011, USA. Electronic address: joaquin.gonzales@ttu.edu.
authors: Joaquin U
authors: JU
authors: Gonzales
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors: C Roger
authors: CR
authors: James
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors: Hyung Suk
authors: HS
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Jensen
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors: Lee
authors: L
authors: Atkins
authors: Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA.
authors: Brennan J
authors: BJ
authors: Thompson
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors: Kareem
authors: K
authors: Al-Khalil
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: O'Boyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014796:Visual Perception; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D000072797:Walking Speed / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aging; Cognitive function; Executive function; Gait speed; Pulse pressure; Walking