Real-life Dual-Task Training for Older Adults at Risk to Fall
Colorado State University
Summary
Older adults have difficulty optimizing two tasks at once and typically experience greater interference than younger adults when dual-tasking, meaningful that there is greater decline in performance of at least one task when comparing single and dual-tasking. Difficulty dual-tasking may actually predict falls in community-dwelling older adults. Dual-task training has been shown to improve cognitive outcomes (attention, memory), motor outcomes (balance, gait), and dual-task performance in older adults; however, most dual-task training involves simulated tasks that do not reflect functional dual tasks in the real world. Greater dual-task improvements could be seen when training functionally specific tasks. One way to increase task specificity is to offer real-life, contextually-relevant, dual-task training embedded in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Limited evidence exists for dual-task training interventions for older adults with T2DM; however there is early evidence of improvements in cognitive and motor effects with simulated dual-task training, which could translate to improved dual-task performance, reduced impact on everyday life, and reduced fall risk. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a real-life dual-task training program for older adults at risk to fall.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * at least 65 years old * ambulatory around the home with or without an assistive device * answered yes to at least one of the fall risk questions with their therapist * scheduled to receive occupational therapy services with instrumental activity of daily living goals through Covell Care. Exclusion Criteria: * Not fluent in English * Self-reported diagnosis of dementia
Interventions
- BehavioralReal-life Dual-Task Training
The intervention is Real-life Dual-Task Training (Real-DTT) which uses instrumental activities of daily living training with explicit focus on the cognitive and motor elements and when to focus attention to one vs. the other to reduce fall risk. The Real-DTT sessions will be delivered once a week for 10 weeks during their occupational therapy sessions, delivered by a licensed occupational therapist. Real-DTT is a modified version of occupational therapy, with a protocol tailored to the participants.
Location
- Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, Colorado