Altered visual-spatial attention to task-irrelevant information is associated with falls risk in older adults

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Lindsay S. Nagamatsu ; Michelle Munkacsy ; Teresa Liu-Ambrose ; Todd C. H ; y
• 关键词：Falls risk ; Aging ; Visual&ndash ; spatial attention ; Event-related potentials (ERPs) ; Neuroimaging
• 刊名：Neuropsychologia
• 出版年：December, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：51
• 期：14
• 页码：3025-3032
• 全文大小：756 K

文摘

Executive cognitive functions play a critical role in falls risk鈥攁 pressing health care issue in seniors. In particular, intact attentional processing is integral for safe mobility and navigation. However, the specific contribution of impaired visual-spatial attention in falls remains unclear. In this study, we examined the association between visual-spatial attention to task-irrelevant stimuli and falls risk in community-dwelling older adults. Participants completed a visual target discrimination task at fixation while task-irrelevant probes were presented in both visual fields. We assessed attention to left and right peripheral probes using event-related potentials (ERPs). Falls risk was determined using the valid and reliable Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA). We found a significantly positive association between reduced attentional facilitation, as measured by the N1 ERP component, and falls risk. This relationship was specific to probes presented in the left visual field and measured at ipsilateral electrode sites. Our results suggest that fallers exhibit reduced attention to the left side of visual space and provide evidence that impaired right hemispheric function and/or structure may contribute to falls.