Does Concern With Falling Influence Neurocognitive Performance Among Older Adults With And Without Parkinson’s Disease

PURPOSE:The neurocognitive functioning of older adults is critical for overall health and well-being, particularly as it relates to the risk of falls.This study investigates the hypothesis that concern about falling may adversely affect neurocognitive performance in older adults with and without Parkinson's disease. The relationship between fall-related anxiety and neurocognitive performance in this population necessitates further exploration, as it could uncover important insights into the ways these factors affect one another. METHODS:An older adult sample, including those diagnosed with and without Parkinson's Disease, will be recruited. The Falls Efficacy-Scale-International (FES-I) will assess falling concerns. The FES-I is a 16-item questionnaire evaluating an individual's confidence in performing daily tasks without falling. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from "Not at all concerned to Very concerned.” Neurocognitive performance is evaluated using the Stroop test administered through the Trazer system. A 30-second Stroop test will be completed. The subject must read the word flashed on the screen and move towards the corresponding target. The word and the color of the word may not match. This study will begin with correlation analyses to explore the relationship among the different study variables. Individual sample t-tests will assess performance differences between Parkinson’s and non-Parkinson's groups. Regression analysis will be used to predict the link between fall-related concerns, as measured by the (FES-I), and neurocognitive performance, assessed through the Stroop test. ANTICIPATED RESULTS:We hypothesize that those with lower FES-I scores will outperform those with high scores on the Stroop test utilizing the Trazer system. CONCLUSIONS:This expectation is based on the premise that individuals with lower fall efficacy may show heightened levels of cognitive engagement when faced with challenging tasks, such as the Stroop test.