Hunter, SW, Divine, A, Madou, E et al. (5 more authors) (2020) Executive function as a mediating factor between visual acuity and postural stability in cognitively healthy adults and adults with Alzheimer’s dementia. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 89. 104078. ISSN 0167-4943
Abstract
Background
Falls in older adults, notably those with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), are prevalent. Vision and balance impairments are prominent falls risk factors in older adults. However, recent literature in the cognitively impaired suggests that executive function (EF) is important for falls risk assessments. The study objectives were to: 1) to compare balance among people with AD, healthy older adults (OA), and healthy young adults (YA) and 2) to quantify the interaction of visual acuity and EF on postural stability.
Methods
We recruited 165 individuals (51 YA, 48 OA, and 66 AD). Trail Making Tests (A and B) quantified EF and the Colenbrander mixed contrast chart measured high and low contrast visual acuity. Accelerometers recorded postural sway during the Modified Test for Sensory Integration. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA examined postural sway differences across groups. Mediation analysis quantified the association of EF in the relationship between contrast sensitivity and postural sway.
Results
Significant EF and visual acuity between-group differences were observed (p < 0.001). For postural sway, a significant interaction existed between group and balance condition (p < 0.001). In general, EF was a significant mediator between visual acuity and postural sway.
Visual acuity, EF and postural sway was worse with increased age, particularly in the AD group.
Conclusions
Mediation analysis revealed that individuals with poorer visual acuity had poorer EF, and those with poorer executive function had poorer balance control. These results highlight the importance of assessing not only vision and balance but also EF, especially in older individuals living with AD.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 Published by Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Cognition; Postural Balance; Vision; Adult; Dementia |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biomedical Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 28 Apr 2020 14:22 |
Last Modified: | 06 May 2021 13:46 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104078 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:159822 |
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