title: The Association Between Physical Performance and Executive Function in a Sample of Rural Older Adults from South Carolina, USA.
abstract: Mobility and executive functions (EFs) decline with age, although associations between mobility and EFs are less clear. This study examined relationships between different mobility measures and EFs among rural older adults.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional study recruited 56 older adults (60+ years) in rural South Carolina. Mobility was assessed via gait speed, timed up-and-go, chair stand, and as a composite physical performance score (PPS). EFs was assessed via Trail Making Test, semantic fluency, and phonemic fluency. Bivariate analyses were performed and regressions were calculated controlling for appropriate covariates, with PPS as the independent variable and each EF test as the dependent variable.
  
  
  
  Mean age was 74.22 years (SD = 8.02), 80.40% were female and 64.71% were white. Bivariate analysis revealed associations between gait speed and Trail Making Test (r = -.33; p = .03), between timed up-and-go and Trail Making Test (r = .34; p = .01), and between PPS and Trail Making Test (r = -.33; p = .03). The regression models indicated higher PPS was associated with better performance on Trail Making Test (β = -1.12; p < 0.01), phonemic fluency (β = 0.68; p = .01), and semantic fluency (β = 0.81; p = .02).
  
  
  
  In a rural setting, mobility is associated with multiple EF processes. Higher mobility and physical ability are desired for maintaining EFs capability.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Falck
authors.affiliation: b Department of Exercise Science , University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Best
authors.affiliation: b Department of Exercise Science , University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.affiliation: c Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu-Ambrose
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D012424:Rural Population; D013022:South Carolina; D000072797:Walking Speed / Q000502:physiology