Cognitive Decline and Brain Activity in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Salzman Talia, Kapilan Kaya, Tobón Diana, Fraser Sarah
Primary Institution: University of Ottawa
Hypothesis
Can dual-tasking methods better detect cognitive decline in older adults with subjective cognitive decline compared to traditional neuropsychological assessments?
Conclusion
Dual-tasking may be more effective than standard tests in identifying subtle cognitive changes in older adults with subjective cognitive decline.
Supporting Evidence
- Greater prefrontal cortex activation was observed in the SCD group compared to controls during the dual-task condition.
- Cognitive and motor performance were worse in both groups during the dual-task compared to single-task condition.
Takeaway
This study looked at older people who think they have memory problems but test normally. It found that doing two tasks at once can show changes in brain activity that regular tests might miss.
Methodology
Older adults with subjective cognitive decline and controls completed a dual-task involving working memory and finger tapping while their brain activity was measured.
Limitations
The study's sample size was small, and further research is needed to confirm the findings.
Participant Demographics
Older adults aged 70.0 ± 6.6 years, including 24 with subjective cognitive decline and 18 controls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=.016, p=.041, p<.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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