A1 Journal article (refereed)
Altered prefrontal cortex responses in older adults with subjective memory complaints and dementia during dual‐task gait : an fNIRS study (2021)

Teo, W., Rantalainen, T., Nuzum, N., Valente, L., & Macpherson, H. (2021). Altered prefrontal cortex responses in older adults with subjective memory complaints and dementia during dual‐task gait : an fNIRS study. European Journal of Neuroscience, 53(4), 1324-1333. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.14989

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Teo, Wei‐Peng; Rantalainen, Timo; Nuzum, Nathan; Valente, Leah; Macpherson, Helen

Journal or series: European Journal of Neuroscience

ISSN: 0953-816X

eISSN: 1460-9568

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 26/09/2020

Volume: 53

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 1324-1333

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.14989

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71924

Abstract

People with cognitive impairments show deficits during physical performances such as gait, in particular during cognitively‐challenging conditions (i.e. dual‐task gait [DTG]). However it is unclear if people at risk of dementia, such as those with subjective memory complaints (SMC), also display gait and central deficits associated with DTG. In this study, we investigated the effects of single‐ and dual‐task gait (STG and DTG), on left prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation in elderly people with subjective memory complaints (SMC) and Dementia. 58 older adults (aged 65‐94 yrs; 26 Healthy; 23 SMC; 9 Dementia) were recruited. Gait spatiotemporal characteristics (i.e. stride velocity and length) were assessed using an instrumented walkway during STG and DTG. Single‐channel functional near‐infrared spectroscopy over the left PFC was used to measure changes in oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb) during gait. Stride velocity and length during STG (all p<0.05) and DTG (all p<0.000) were significantly impaired in people with Dementia compared to Healthy and SMC individuals. No differences were observed between Healthy and SMC. For STG, a greater increase in O2Hb (p<0.05) was observed in those with Dementia compared to the Healthy and SMC, while no differences were observed between Healthy and SMC. A significant increase and decline in O2Hb was observed during DTG in the SMC and Dementia groups respectively, compared to Healthy. Our findings indicate an altered pattern of cerebral haemodynamic response of the left PFC in DTG in people with SMC and Dementia, which may suggest that central changes precede functional impairments in people with SMC.

Keywords: physical training; walking (motion); brain; cerebral cortex; memory (cognition); memory disorders; cognitive skills; dementia; central nervous system; functional capacity; kinematics

Free keywords: brain activation; cognitive demands; Gait kinematics; neurodegeneration; neuroimaging

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1