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Dual and triple tasks performance in institutionalized prefrail and frail older adults
Author(s) -
LorenzoLópez Laura,
CamposMagdaleno María,
LópezLópez Rocío,
Facal David,
Pereiro Arturo X.,
Maseda Ana,
BlancoFandiño Julia,
MillánCalenti José Carlos
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.5375
Subject(s) - physical medicine and rehabilitation , cognition , task (project management) , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , gait , verbal fluency test , weakness , fluency , psychology , gerontology , medicine , neuropsychology , psychiatry , mathematics education , management , economics , anatomy
Objective The aim of this pilot study was to investigate differences on dual‐ and triple‐task performance in institutionalized prefrail and frail older adults. Performance on these tasks is relevant since many activities of daily living involve simultaneous motor and cognitive tasks. Methods We used a phenotypic description of frailty based on the presence or absence of five criteria related to physical fitness and metabolism (unintentional weight loss, self‐reported exhaustion, muscle weakness, low gait speed, and low physical activity). Thirty‐three institutionalized older adults (≥ 65 years, 78.8% females) were divided according to their frailty status. Participants completed cognitive tasks (a phonemic verbal fluency task and a visuospatial tracking task) while cycling on a stationary cycle (upper‐ and lower‐extremity function was assessed). Cycling (number of arm and foot cycles) and cognitive (number of correct answers) performances were measured during single‐, dual‐, and triple‐task conditions. Performances and costs of dual ‐and triple‐ tasking on cycling and cognitive performances were compared between prefrail and frail groups. Results Prefrail and frail older adults did not differ in their performance in dual‐tasks; however, frail older adults showed a poorer performance in the triple‐task. Conclusions Although future studies need to confirm our observations in larger samples, this pilot study suggests that developing new tools based on triple tasking could be useful for the comprehensive assessment of frailty.