Cerebral Amyloid Deposition and Dual-Tasking in Cognitively Normal, Mobility Unimpaired Older Adults.
We examined relationships between cerebral amyloid-beta (Aβ) and cognitive-gait dual-task performance in 27 cognitively normal, mobility unimpaired elders.



We assessed Aβ on Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB)-PET. We measured gait speed separately and while performing working-memory, response-inhibition, motor-sequencing, and phone-dialing tasks. We compared dual-task costs on gait and cognitive performance in high-Aβ (PiB(+)) and low-Aβ (PiB(-)) groups and examined the association between Aβ and dual-task performance decrements.



PiB(+) (n = 16) were comparable with the PiB(-) (n = 11) individuals on demographics, general cognitive and physical performance, and key brain MRI characteristics. PiB(+) group demonstrated greater dual-task costs on gait speed on all cognitive tasks (p < .05) except on response inhibition. Dual-task costs on cognition were similar between groups. Overall, Aβ was associated with dual-task decrement on gait speed but not on dual-task decrement on cognitive performance.



Preliminary evidence indicates that cerebral Aβ is associated with gait slowing on dual-tasking in healthy older adults.
Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine).|Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.
Neelesh K
NK
Nadkarni
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.|Department of Neurology.|Department of Psychiatry, and.
Oscar L
OL
Lopez
Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine).|Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Subashan
S
Perera
NIA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland.
Stephanie A
SA
Studenski
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.|Department of Neurology.
Beth E
BE
Snitz
Department of Psychology.
Kirk I
KI
Erickson
Department of Radiology, and.
Chester A
CA
Mathis
Department of Psychiatry, and.
Robert D
RD
Nebes
Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mark
M
Redfern
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.|Department of Neurology.|Department of Psychiatry, and.
William E
WE
Klunk
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides
Alzheimer’s disease; Cognition; Gait