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Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Vol. 20, No. 1, 58-62 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0891988706293528

Effect of Divided Attention on Gait in Subjects With and Without Cognitive Impairment

Anna F. Pettersson, RPT, MSc

Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Department of Physical Therapy, Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society Division of Physiotherapy, Huddinge, Sweden, anna.pettersson{at}ki.se

Elisabeth Olsson, RPT, PhD

Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Department of Physical Therapy, Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society Division of Physiotherapy, Huddinge, Sweden

Lars-Olof Wahlund, MD, PhD

Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cognition on motor function using 2 simple everyday tasks, talking and walking, in younger subjects with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. A second aim was to evaluate reliability for the dual-task test Talking While Walking. Walking speed during single and dual task and time change between single and dual task were compared between groups. The test procedure was repeated after 1 week. Subjects with AD had lower walking speed and greater time change between single and dual task compared with healthy controls. Reliability for Talking While Walking was very good. The results show that motor function in combination with a cognitive task, as well as motor function alone, influences subjects with Alzheimer’s disease in a negative way and that decreased walking speed during single- and dual-task performance may be an early symptom in Alzheimer’s disease.

Key Words: Alzheimer’s • dual task • gait • mild cognitive impairment • motor function


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