Imagine trying to walk and count at the same time without stumbling. It’s no easy feat! Cognitive-motor dual-tasking, like this challenging activity, is a key predictor of falls risk and cognitive impairment in older adults. Scientists conducted a study with 33 healthy older adults to explore different training interventions that could improve dual-tasking abilities. The participants were split into three groups: one focused on executive function, one on aerobic exercise, and one on gross motor abilities. After 12 weeks of training, the researchers evaluated their performance on both single and dual-tasks. What they discovered was fascinating: while there were limited changes in gait speed during dual-tasking, cognitive accuracy significantly improved when combined with walking. This improvement was observed across all training groups, suggesting that regardless of the intervention type, cognitive efficiency during dual-tasking can be strengthened. Interestingly, older adults with lower baseline cognitive ability showed greater improvements in dual-task cognitive accuracy compared to those with higher baseline cognitive ability. These findings not only highlight the importance of cognitive-motor dual-tasking in aging populations but also provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms behind these improvements. If you’re curious to learn more about the research and how you can enhance your own cognitive-motor skills as you age, dive into the full article!

Cognitive-motor dual-tasking is a complex activity that predicts falls risk and cognitive impairment in older adults. Cognitive and physical training can both lead to improvements in dual-tasking; however, less is known about what mechanisms underlie these changes. To investigate this, 33 healthy older adults were randomized to one of three training arms: Executive function (EF; n = 10), Aerobic Exercise (AE; n = 10), Gross Motor Abilities (GMA; n = 13) over 12 weeks (1 h, 3×/week). Single and dual-task performance (gait speed, m/s; cognitive accuracy, %) was evaluated before and after training, using the 2-back as concurrent cognitive load. Training arms were designed to improve cognitive and motor functioning, through different mechanisms (i.e., executive functioning – EF, cardiorespiratory fitness – CRF, and energy cost of walking – ECW). Compared to baseline, we observed few changes in dual-task gait speed following training (small effect). However, dual-task cognitive accuracy improved significantly, becoming facilitated by walking (large effect). There were no differences in the magnitude of improvements across training arms. We also found that older adults with lower cognitive ability (i.e., MoCA score < 26; n = 14) improved more on the dual-task cognitive accuracy following training, compared to older adults with higher cognitive ability (i.e., MoCA ≥26; n = 18). Taken together, the results suggest that regardless of the type of intervention, training appears to strengthen cognitive efficiency during dual-tasking, particularly for older adults with lower baseline cognitive status. These gains appear to occur via different mechanisms depending on the form of intervention. Implications of this research are paramount, as we demonstrate multiple routes for improving cognitive-motor dual-tasking in older adults, which may help reduce risk of cognitive impairment.

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