0000000000479244
AUTHOR
Anna Tirkkonen
Promoting safe walking among older people : the effects of a physical and cognitive training intervention vs. physical training alone on mobility and falls among older community-dwelling men and women (the PASSWORD study): design and methods of a randomized controlled trial
Abstract Background Safe and stable walking is a complex process involving the interaction of neuromuscular, sensory and cognitive functions. As physical and cognitive functions deteriorate with ageing, training of both functions may have more beneficial effects on walking and falls prevention than either alone. This article describes the study design, recruitment strategies and interventions of the PASSWORD study investigating whether a combination of physical and cognitive training (PTCT) has greater effects on walking speed, dual-task cost in walking speed, fall incidence and executive functions compared to physical training (PT) alone among 70–85-year-old community-dwelling sedentary or…
Associations Between Physical and Executive Functions Among Community-Dwelling Older Men and Women
Walking is a complex task requiring the interplay of neuromuscular, sensory, and cognitive functions. Owing to the age-related decline in cognitive and physical functions, walking may be compromised in older adults, for cognitive functions, especially poor performance in executive functions, is associated with slow walking speed. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between different subdomains of executive functions and physical functions and whether the associations found differ between men and women. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed on data collected from 314 community-dwelling older adults who did not meet physical activity guidelines but had…
Associations of physical activity in detailed intensity ranges with body composition and physical function : a cross-sectional study among sedentary older adults
Background Physical activity is crucial to maintain older adults’ health and functioning, but the health benefits of particular activity intensities remain unclear. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to peruse the distribution of physical activity, and to investigate the associations of particular physical activity intensities with body composition and physical function among older adults. Methods The sample comprised of 293 community-dwelling sedentary or at most moderately active older adults (42% men, mean age 74 ± 4 years). Physical activity was measured with a hip-worn tri-axial accelerometer over seven consecutive days, and investigated in detailed intensity range and in catego…
The effects of a physical and cognitive training intervention vs. physical training alone on older adults' physical activity : A randomized controlled trial with extended follow-up during COVID-19
BackgroundExecutive functions underlie self-regulation and are thus important for physical activity and adaptation to new situations. The aim was to investigate, if yearlong physical and cognitive training (PTCT) had greater effects on physical activity among older adults than physical training (PT) alone, and if executive functions predicted physical activity at baseline, after six (6m) and twelve months (12m) of the interventions, one-year post-intervention follow-up and an extended follow-up during COVID-19 lockdown.MethodsData from a single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (PASSWORD-study, ISRCTN52388040) were utilized. Participants were 70-85 years old community-dwel…
Participant characteristics associated with the effects of a physical and cognitive training program on executive functions
Background: Physical and cognitive interventions have been shown to induce positive effects on older adults’ executive functioning. However, since participants with different background characteristics may respond differently to such interventions, we investigated whether training effects on executive functions were associated with sex, training compliance, and age. We also investigated if change in global cognition was associated with physical and cognitive training intervention-induced changes in executive functions. Methods: Exploratory data from a randomized controlled trial were analyzed. Participants were 70–85-year-old men and women who received a 12-month physical (PT) or physical a…
Bidirectional associations between cognitive functions and walking performance among middle-aged women
Objective: This study investigated whether (1) cognitive functions change after the transition from the perimenopausal to the postmenopausal stage, (2) cognitive functions and walking are associated in middle-aged women, and (3) cognitive functions assessed in perimenopause are associated with walking after reaching the postmenopause or vice versa. Methods: In total, 342 women, categorized as early (n = 158) or late perimenopausal (n = 184), were included in the study and followed up until postmenopausal. Psychomotor speed, executive functions related to set-shifting and updating, working memory, and visual memory were assessed. Walking was assessed with walking speed, walking distance, and…
Effects of Physical and Cognitive Training on Gait Speed and Cognition in Older Adults : A Randomized Controlled Trial
Gait speed is a measure of health and functioning. Physical and cognitive determinants of gait are amenable to interventions, but best practices remain unclear. We investigated the effects of a 12‐month physical and cognitive training (PTCT) on gait speed, dual‐task cost in gait speed, and executive functions (EFs) compared to physical training (PT) (ISRCTN52388040). Community‐dwelling older adults, who did not meet physical activity recommendations, were recruited (n=314). PT included supervised walking/balance (once weekly) and resistance/balance training (once weekly), home exercises (2‐3 times weekly) and moderate aerobic activity 150 minutes/week in bouts of >10 minutes. PTCT included …
Associations of neuroticism with falls in older adults : do psychological factors mediate the association?
OBJECTIVES Neuroticism predicts falls in older people. In addition, concern about falling and depressive symptoms are associated with fall risk. This study examined whether concern about falling and depressive symptoms mediate the association between neuroticism and falls. METHOD Cross-sectional data on 314 community-dwelling people aged 70–85 years were utilized. Neuroticism was assessed with a short modified form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Indoor and outdoor falls during the past year were self-reported. Concern about falling was assessed with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International and depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Path modeling was used to examine…
Kognitiivisen toimintakyvyn yhteys tasapainoon ja tasapainon varmuuteen lonkkamurtumasta toipuvilla iäkkäillä henkilöillä
Iäkkäiden henkilöiden osuus väestössä kasvaa, jonka vuoksi myös lonkkamurtumien määrä nousee. Lonkkamurtuma on iäkkäälle henkilölle dramaattinen tapahtuma, joka heikentää elämänlaatua ja lisää laitoshoidon ja kuoleman riskiä. Yksilölle koituvan haitan lisäksi lonkkamurtumien hoidosta ja kuntoutuksesta aiheutuu kustannuksia yhteiskunnalle. Heikon kognitiivisen toimintakyvyn on todettu olevan yhteydessä iäkkäiden henkilöiden heikentyneeseen tasapainon hallintaan, joka osaltaan lisäävät kaatumisen riskiä. Tämän tutkielman tarkoitus oli selvittää onko kognitiivisen toimintakyvyn taso yhteydessä lonkkamurtumasta toipuvien iäkkäiden henkilöiden tasapainon hallintaan ja tasapainon varmuuteen. Tutk…
Effects of physical and cognitive training on gait speed and cognition in older adults: A randomized controlled trial
Gait speed is a measure of health and functioning. Physical and cognitive determinants of gait are amenable to interventions, but best practices remain unclear. We investigated the effects of a 12-month physical and cognitive training (PTCT) on gait speed, dual-task cost in gait speed, and executive functions (EFs) compared with physical training (PT) (ISRCTN52388040). Community-dwelling older adults, who did not meet physical activity recommendations, were recruited (n = 314). PT included supervised walking/balance (once weekly) and resistance/balance training (once weekly), home exercises (2-3 times weekly), and moderate aerobic activity 150 min/week in bouts of >10 min. PTCT included the…
Effects of Physical and Cognitive Training on Falls and Concern About Falling in Older Adults : Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract Background The aim of this study is to investigate whether combined cognitive and physical training provides additional benefits to fall prevention when compared with physical training (PT) alone in older adults. Methods This is a prespecified secondary analysis of a single-blind, randomized controlled trial involving community-dwelling men and women aged 70–85 years who did not meet the physical activity guidelines. The participants were randomized into combined physical and cognitive training (PTCT, n = 155) and PT (n = 159) groups. PT included supervised and home-based physical exercises following the physical activity recommendations. PTCT included PT and computer-based cogniti…