The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation Study
Introduction: With vulnerable aging, gait speed (GS) undergoes progressive changes, becoming slower. In this process, cognitive performance (CP) and physical function (PF) both play an important role. This study aims (1) to investigate the association between CP and PF with GS and (2) to examine whe...
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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Series: | Geriatrics |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/7/4/73 |
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author | Marcelo de Maio Nascimento Élvio Rúbio Gouveia Bruna R. Gouveia Adilson Marques Priscila Marconcin Cíntia França Andreas Ihle |
author_facet | Marcelo de Maio Nascimento Élvio Rúbio Gouveia Bruna R. Gouveia Adilson Marques Priscila Marconcin Cíntia França Andreas Ihle |
author_sort | Marcelo de Maio Nascimento |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Introduction: With vulnerable aging, gait speed (GS) undergoes progressive changes, becoming slower. In this process, cognitive performance (CP) and physical function (PF) both play an important role. This study aims (1) to investigate the association between CP and PF with GS and (2) to examine whether CP and PF mediate the association between age and GS in a large sample of Brazilian older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study analyzed 697 individuals (mean age 70.35 ± 6.86 years) from the state of Amazonas. The CP was evaluated by the COGTEL test battery, PF by the Senior Fitness Test battery, and GS with the 50-foot Walk Test. Results: Older adults with a lower CP and PF had a 70% and 86% chance of slow GS, respectively. When CP and PF were placed simultaneously as mediators, the direct effect estimated by the model revealed a non-significant relationship between age and GS. Specifically, CP and PF mediated the association between age and GS, at approximately 12% and 98%, respectively. Conclusions: CP and PF show the potential to estimate GS performance among older adults. Moreover, CP and PF indicated a negative and direct association between age and slow GS, especially PF. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:56:42Z |
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id | doaj.art-ccfb82d2ece6426f8d8b57de223b6717 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2308-3417 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:56:42Z |
publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Geriatrics |
spelling | doaj.art-ccfb82d2ece6426f8d8b57de223b67172023-12-01T23:44:47ZengMDPI AGGeriatrics2308-34172022-07-01747310.3390/geriatrics7040073The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation StudyMarcelo de Maio Nascimento0Élvio Rúbio Gouveia1Bruna R. Gouveia2Adilson Marques3Priscila Marconcin4Cíntia França5Andreas Ihle6Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, BrazilDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalLARSYS-Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering System, Interactive Technologies Institute, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalCIPER-Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1495-751 Lisbon, PortugalCIPER-Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1495-751 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalCenter for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, SwitzerlandIntroduction: With vulnerable aging, gait speed (GS) undergoes progressive changes, becoming slower. In this process, cognitive performance (CP) and physical function (PF) both play an important role. This study aims (1) to investigate the association between CP and PF with GS and (2) to examine whether CP and PF mediate the association between age and GS in a large sample of Brazilian older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study analyzed 697 individuals (mean age 70.35 ± 6.86 years) from the state of Amazonas. The CP was evaluated by the COGTEL test battery, PF by the Senior Fitness Test battery, and GS with the 50-foot Walk Test. Results: Older adults with a lower CP and PF had a 70% and 86% chance of slow GS, respectively. When CP and PF were placed simultaneously as mediators, the direct effect estimated by the model revealed a non-significant relationship between age and GS. Specifically, CP and PF mediated the association between age and GS, at approximately 12% and 98%, respectively. Conclusions: CP and PF show the potential to estimate GS performance among older adults. Moreover, CP and PF indicated a negative and direct association between age and slow GS, especially PF.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/7/4/73gaitcognitionagingphysical functions |
spellingShingle | Marcelo de Maio Nascimento Élvio Rúbio Gouveia Bruna R. Gouveia Adilson Marques Priscila Marconcin Cíntia França Andreas Ihle The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation Study Geriatrics gait cognition aging physical functions |
title | The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation Study |
title_full | The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation Study |
title_fullStr | The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation Study |
title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation Study |
title_short | The Role of Cognitive Performance and Physical Functions in the Association between Age and Gait Speed: A Mediation Study |
title_sort | role of cognitive performance and physical functions in the association between age and gait speed a mediation study |
topic | gait cognition aging physical functions |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/7/4/73 |
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