Martínez-Carrasco Claudia, Cid-Navarrete Fernanda, Rossel Pedro O, Fuentes Jorge, Zamunér Antonio Roberto, Méndez-Rebolledo Guillermo, Cabrera-Aguilera Ignacio
Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Odontología y Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile.
Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad Andrés Bello, Concepción, Chile.
J Aging Phys Act. 2024 Aug 1;33(1):1-9. doi: 10.1123/japa.2023-0323. Print 2025 Feb 1.
Executive function (EF) deficits are a significant risk factor for falls among older adults (OAs). However, relationship between EF subdomains (shifting, updating, and inhibition), postural balance (PB), and fall risk in healthy OAs, remains poorly understood.
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between EF subdomains (shifting, updating, and inhibition) and PB, and to assess their impact on risk of falls in community-dwelling OAs.
A cross-sectional study involving 50 OAs aged over 60 years (average age of 72 years) was conducted. Participants underwent assessments of EF subdomains and PB using validated tests. A correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between EF and PB.
The study revealed significant correlations between subdomains and PB. Mental set shifting (r = -.539; p < .001) and inhibition (r = -.395; p = .050) exhibited inverse relationships with PB. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that Trail Making Test Part B was associated with the PB (R2 = .42, p < .001).
These findings highlight the importance of assessing EF subdomains, particularly shifting and inhibition, to identify risk of falls. Trail Making Test Part B largely explains the variability of the PB. Integrating PB assessments and EF training, such as the Mini-BESTest, into routine care can be vital for fall prevention strategies. Significance/Implications: This knowledge underscores the need for cognitive training interventions focusing on shifting and inhibition to enhance PB and potentially reduce falls. Additionally, incorporation of EF assessment tools as Trail Making Test Part B and the Mini-BESTest into routine clinical practice for community-dwelling OAs is recommended to address fall prevention strategies.
执行功能（EF）缺陷是老年人（OA）跌倒的一个重要风险因素。然而，在健康的老年人中，EF子领域（转换、更新和抑制）、姿势平衡（PB）与跌倒风险之间的关系仍知之甚少。
本研究旨在探讨EF子领域（转换、更新和抑制）与PB之间的关系，并评估它们对社区居住老年人跌倒风险的影响。
进行了一项横断面研究，涉及50名年龄超过60岁（平均年龄72岁）的老年人。使用经过验证的测试对参与者进行EF子领域和PB的评估。采用相关分析来检验EF与PB之间的关系。
研究揭示了子领域与PB之间存在显著相关性。心理定势转换（r = -0.539；p < 0.001）和抑制（r = -0. 395；p = 0.050）与PB呈负相关。逐步多元线性回归表明，连线测验B部分与PB相关（R2 = 0.42，p < 0.001）。
这些发现凸显了评估EF子领域，特别是转换和抑制，以识别跌倒风险问题的重要性。连线测验B部分在很大程度上解释了PB的变异性。将PB评估和EF训练（如Mini-BESTest）纳入常规护理对于预防跌倒策略至关重要。意义/启示：这一知识强调了需要开展侧重于转换和抑制的认知训练干预措施，以增强PB并可能减少跌倒。此外，建议将EF评估工具（如连线测验B部分和Mini-BESTest）纳入社区居住老年人的常规临床实践中，以落实预防跌倒策略。
