Volitional control of walking in aging

Abstract

Walking ability is a robust predictor of health outcomes in aging. Compelling evidence supports meaningful interrelations between walking and cognition, notably when the former is performed under dual-task conditions that place increased demands on attention and executive control resources subserved by the prefrontal cortex (PFC) [1]. Indeed, a recent review and meta-analytic study established that due to the increased cognitive demands involved in allocating attention to competing task demands, older adults demonstrate a reliable decline in walking performance in dual- compared to single-task conditions [2]. Importantly, dual-task walking paradigms approximate conditions in natural environments that require adaptation to competing sensory, physical and cognitive interferences. (from Introduction)