Exploring the role of conscientiousness on dual-task walking in older adults with and without multiple sclerosis
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Abstract
•Objective: The current study examined the main and moderating effects of conscientiousness and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease status on Dual-Task Walking in non-demented, community-residing older adults.
•Participants and Methods: A sample of 72 older adults with MS (61.1% female) and 93 older adults without MS (67.7% female) provided information regarding levels of conscientiousness via completion of the Big Five Inventory-2 Extra Short-Form Test. Poor distribution of conscientiousness which threatened model assumptions necessitated a median split to create groups of high vs. low conscientiousness. Participants also completed a Dual-Task Walk Paradigm, which included a single-task-walk of three consecutive loops on an instrumented walkway, a single-task-alpha where subjects stood still and recited alternate letters of the alphabet for 30 seconds, and a dual-task-walk where subjects were instructed to do both tasks simultaneously. Gait velocity and rate of correct letter generation served as key motoric and cognitive outcomes, respectively.
•Results: Adjusted linear mixed effects models revealed no main or moderating effects of disease status (i.e., presence or absence of MS) in older adults on cognitive or motoric outcomes. A significant main effect of conscientiousness on motor outcomes was observed, indicating individuals with higher levels of conscientiousness had faster gait velocity. No other main or moderating effects of levels of conscientiousness were observed. Additional exploratory analyses aimed to assess for a three-way interaction of group status by conscientiousness by task revealed non-significant interactions.
•Conclusion: Findings from the present study suggest that higher levels of conscientiousness is associated with faster gait speed in the DTW paradigm. As conscientiousness is a modifiable risk factor, we contend it may be a useful marker to target for treatment in MS.