Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Nov 21;11(23):3012.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare11233012.

Effects of Multi-Task Mode on Cognition and Lower Limb Function in Frail Older Adults: A Systematic Search and Review

Cenyi Wang  1 , Bingqing Wang  1 , Jiling Liang  2 , Ziru Niu  1 , Aming Lu  1
Affiliations
Review

Effects of Multi-Task Mode on Cognition and Lower Limb Function in Frail Older Adults: A Systematic Search and Review

Cenyi Wang et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

The application of multi-tasking (MT), especially dual-tasking (DT), in frail older adults is currently gaining attention. The aim was to review the application of the MT mode on cognition and lower limb function in frail older adults, including the MT test and MT training. By searching five electronic databases, Scopus, PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science and the Chinese electronic database, a total of 18 studies were finally included in this study, with 7 articles on MT testing and 11 articles on MT training. The results of the study showed that the current testing and training of MT is mainly based on the DT mode, with a wide variety of test types and protocols, as well as a variety of outcomes. The included studies suggested that DT can be used as a test to assess cognitive and lower limb function in the frail population and that an MT (DT) training program with an intervention period of ≥3 months or a duration of ≥60 min per session could improve cognitive and lower limb function in the frail population, thereby reducing the risk of falls. Further research is required to explore the effects of different types of MT and task prioritization in frail older adults.

Keywords: cognition; dual-task; frail older adults; lower limb function; multi-task.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the study selection. CNKI, Chinese National Knowledge Information Database.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Potential mechanisms of the effects of MT training on frail older adults (AAC, attentional allocation capacity; CDI, competitive demands interference; CNN, complex neural networks; EFs, executive functions; FTPA, fronto-temporo-parietal areas; ICA, increase in cerebral angiogenesis; ICBF, increase in cerebral blood flow; LEMS, Lambert–Eaton myasthenia syndrome; MCDTT, motor-cognitive dual task training; MTT, multitask training; PFC, prefrontal cortex; SSOF, sensory system organs function; ST, single task; TISs, task-integration skills).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Fried L.P., Tangen C.M., Walston J., Newman A.B., Hirsch C., Gottdiener J., Seeman T., Tracy R., Kop W.J., Burke G., et al. Frailty in older adults: Evidence for a phenotype. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 2001;56:M146–M156. doi: 10.1093/gerona/56.3.M146. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Johansen K.L. The frail dialysis population: A growing burden for the dialysis community. Blood Purif. 2015;40:288–292. doi: 10.1159/000441575. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Altintas H.K., Coban S.A., Cantekin I. Relationship between frailty and loneliness among community-dwelling Turkish older people. Psychogeriatrics. 2023;23:243–251. doi: 10.1111/psyg.12926. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sato K., Ikeda T., Watanabe R., Kondo N., Kawachi I., Kondo K. Intensity of community-based programs by long-term care insurers and the likelihood of frailty: Multilevel analysis of older Japanese adults. Soc. Sci. Med. 2020;245:112701. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112701. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dury S., De Roeck E., Duppen D., Fret B., Hoeyberghs L., Lambotte D., Van der Elst M., van der Vorst A., Schols J., Kempen G., et al. Identifying frailty risk profiles of home-dwelling older people: Focus on sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Aging Ment. Health. 2017;21:1031–1039. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2016.1193120. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources