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Gait, hearing and cognition


As people age cognitive deficits and mobility problems threatening independence of the elderly are more prone to develop. These changes rely on a strong interconnection between sensorimotor deficits and declined cognition. Based on these observations, we have conducted a cross-sectional study with various populations including healthy young and older adults as well as patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to address the interplay between hearing status, gait and attentional control. All older participants (healthy and patients) are being followed-up longitudinally, after a period of approx. 4.5 years.

This study is based on a dual-task paradigm in which the Dichotic Listening (DL) test is performed during walking. DL test is a recognized cognitive task for the study of divided attention in the auditory modality and language lateralization. Because DL relies on attentional control that can be directed to one side of the body (right vs. left ears), we are able to assess the lateralized effects of attention on gait. This project also links neural correlates to the attention-gait associations observed in the behavioral data, such as the role of myelin degeneration.

Participant in gait lab Gait lab

The following are some key publications of this project:

  • M.M. Gorecka; O., Vasylenko; K. Waterloo & C. Rodríguez-Aranda (2021) Assessing a Sensory-Motor-Cognition Triad in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment With Dichotic Listening While Walking: A Dual-Task Paradigm. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2021; Volum 13. ISSN 1663-4365.s 1-16.s  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.718900
  • S.A. Castro-Chavira., T.R. Vangberg, M.M. Gorecka, O. Vasylenko, K. Waterloo & C. Rodríguez-Aranda (2019). White matter correlates of gait perturbations resulting from spontaneous and lateralized attention in healthy older adults: A dual-task study. Experimental Gerontology, 128, 110744 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.110744
  • M. M. Gorecka, O. Vasylenko, J. Espenes, K. Waterloo, and C. Rodríguez-Aranda (2018). The impact of age-related hearing loss and lateralized auditory attention on spatiotemporal parameters of gait during dual-tasking among community dwelling older adults. Experimental Gerontology, 111, 253-262 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2018.07.015

MRI



Members:

Claudia Rodríguez-Aranda (Principal investigator)
Marta Maria Gorecka


Financial/grant information:

Helse Nord, the Norwegian Health Association & UiT.