Relationship between Executive Function and Dual Task Physical Performance among Older Adults-A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Older adults with both physical and cognitive impairment are at higher risk for dementia, fall and disability. So, identifying whether physical performance decline is associated with executive dysfunction is important for developing physical therapy early intervention strategies for older adults. Purpose: (1) To examine the relationship between executive functions and dual-task physical performances among older adults, (2) To confirm executive function as a useful predictor for functional limitation or disability process in older adults. Methodology: To measure physical performance, first, reference gait speed on 10 m path was measured. Secondly, dual task gait speed was calculated from 20 m rectangular path with obstruction and picking up an object from it while walking at their comfortable pace. Participants had to cross the obstacles simultaneously picking the ball from bucket. The time to finish the task was measured and from that gait speed during dual task was calculated. The TMT-B test was used to evaluate the components of executive function. To complete this test, participant was asked to use a pencil to connect 25 encircled numbers and letters in numerical and alphabetical order, alternating between numbers and letters. Time to finish this test was recorded. Results: After analyzing data, for dual task gait speed and TMT-B, we got the value of Spearman’s correlation coefficient(r) is 0.698 and level of significance (p<0.05). For reference gait speed and TMT-B, we got the value of Spearman’s correlation coefficient(r) is 0.600 and level of significance (p<0.05) Conclusion: This points out that there is statistically significant correlation between executive function and dualtask physical performance among older adults.