Assessment of dual tasking has no clinical value for fall prediction in Parkinson’s disease

• DOI: 10.1007/s00415-012-6419-4
• Publication Date: 2012-01-31T11:12:26Z
• Authors: Katrijn Smulders; Rianne A. J. Esse...; Aner Weiss; Roy P. C. Kessels; Alexander C. H. G...; Bastiaan R. Bloem
• Keywords: Stroop effect; STRIDE

The objective of this study is to investigate the value dual-task performance for prediction falls in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Two hundred sixty-three PD (H&Y 1–3, 65.2 ± 7.9 years) walked two times along a 10-m trajectory, both under single-task and (DT) conditions (combined an auditory Stroop task). To control cueing effect, stimuli were presented at variable or fixed 1- 2-s intervals. task was also performed alone. Dual-task costs calculated gait speed, stride length, time, time variability, step regularity, symmetry composite scores (accuracy/reaction time). Subsequently, registered prospectively 1 year (monthly assessments). Patients categorized as non-recurrent fallers (no fall) recurrent (>1 falls). Recurrent (35%) had significantly higher severity, lower MMSE scores, Timed "Up & Go" test than fallers. Under DT conditions, speed lengths decreased. Stride did not change conditions. only significant interval trials. Importantly, show different compared on any parameters. These results after correction baseline group differences. Deterioration associated prospective large sample PD.