Análise do efeito da dupla tarefa sobre o equilíbrio estático, controle postural e mobilidade em neurogeriatria: um estudo transversal

Abstract

Introduction: The aging process together with pathological processes have an impact on cognitive and motor function and generate intense physiological changes that can lead to the impairment of physical and cognitive capacities in the elderly and that tend to decrease mobility and restrict daily activities. Memory is one of the first functions to regress in aging, with difficulties in activities involving evocation and visuospatial recognition in double task (TD) conditions. The interaction between aging and pathological processes can profoundly impact cognitive and physical function, as seen in mild cognitive impairment (CCL), dementia and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), which affect the elderly. Objectives: To analyze the interference of the cognitive and motor task on static postural control and mobility performance in the curvilinear lane, as well as to propose a double task evaluation form for the elderly. Methods: The study presents a cross-sectional and analytical design, with a non-probabilistic sample and for convenience. The participants were submitted to clinical-functional evaluation through 13 measurement instruments and evaluation of static postural control through computerized posturography with evaluation protocol composed of 16 conditions, 14 conditions of dual motor-cognitive task. Results: A total of 35 elderly patients were included in three groups: healthy elderly (n = 15), mild cognitive impairment (n = 9) and Parkinson's disease group (n = 11). For the mobility tests, there was a temporal increase during the performance of dual motor and cognitive tasks for the three groups compared to the simple p-value tests (<0.01). Conclusions: The elderly without commitment are more functional and independent; those with cognitive impairment present greater difficulty to perform tasks involving cognitive aspects, while the elderly with Parkinson's disease present greater embarrassment for the motor tasks. The use of TD affects motor performance in aspects of functional mobility and increases the risk of falls among elderly individuals with some degree of cognitive decline. The dual task application allowed the verification of the interference of the cognitive task on the postural control, especially the tasks of verbal fluency.