Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the concurrent validity of the dual-task walking speed assessments in older adults using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Neuro-Psychological (CERAD-NP) Assessment Battery. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design. SETTING: Welfare care centers, Senior complex centers, and Dementia prevention care centers. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 163 community-dwelling older adults (N=163) were recruited using consecutive sampling. Participants were composed of 65 older adults with cognitive decline and 98 without cognitive decline. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: This study assessed the concurrent validity between dual-task walking speed assessments and the Total II score of CERAD-NP using Spearman's rank order correlations. The effect of the dual-task walking speed assessments on the Total II score was further investigated through multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: There was a moderate and statically significant association between the Total II score and all 8 dual-task walking speed assessments (P<.05). The Total II score was strongly associated with the dual tasks of walking on a straight path while counting backward and crossing over an obstacle (r=0.698, r=0.697, respectively; P<.05). According to multiple linear regression, only the dual task of walking while counting backward was significantly associated with the Total II score (P<.05). CONCLUSION: The dual-task walking speed assessments, which involved walking and performing a secondary task such as counting backward or crossing an obstacle on a straight path, were highly indicative of cognitive decline. The combination of results from both tasks may provide a more comprehensive evaluation of cognitive decline compared with relying solely on a single-task assessment.