Relationship between Postural Control and Posture-Unrelated Attention Control in Advanced Age

Background: It has been shown that postural control (PC) is not an automatic task and is generally accompanied by posture-unrelated (PU) cognitive activity, especially in old age. While the relationship between PU cognition and cardiovascular fitness in old age is highly researched, studies assessing the relationship between PU cognition and PC are scarce.

Method: We assessed the relationship between PU attention with PC and with cardiovascular fitness in 112 people (34 men) aged 74.44 (±6.07). Stepwise regressions were performed with attention (Go-Nogo) as a dependent variable, and static (quiet stance in 8 sensory conditions, and Functional Reach) and dynamic balance (10m walk – time and stride length, Timed Up & Go) and VO₂ as independent variables.

Results: In men, Functional Reach and stability with eyes closed and head tilted explained 52% of the variance of attention, and for women aged 63-74, stability with eyes closed and stride length explained 30.5% of the variance. In women aged 75+ the correlations were low and no variables contributed to explaining the variance of attention. VO₂ did not enter any of the regressions. We concluded that in men, a decrease in sensory-motor information followed by a decrease in visual information – both of these in a standing position – is related to PU attention, while for women aged 75 a decrease in visual information and performing a dynamic balance task are related to PU attention. In women, as age increases, PC becomes less related to PU attention.