Source
Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences & Social
Sciences.
50(5):P272-7, 1995 Sep.
Abstract
Global cognitive impairment in older adults has been associated with
a greater risk of falling, and tripping has been
implicated as an important factor in a large percentage of these
falls. In order to evaluate the role of specific cognitive
domains in tripping and falling, 23 healthy older adults completed
basic and complex obstacle avoidance tasks, as well as
a battery of neuropsychological tests. Using multiple regression
analysis, a select pattern of neuropsychological measures
was found to predict the decrement in performance evident as
avoidance task complexity increased. Whereas measures
of problem solving, response inhibition, general anxiety, and
variability in attention were found to be significant predictors
(in that order) of the relative decline in successful obstacle
avoidance, measures of visuo-spatial discrimination and
memory did not.