Efeito da realização simultânea de tarefas cognitivas e motoras no desempenho funcional de idosos da comunidade

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de seis diferentes tarefas duplas no desempenho funcional de idosos da comunidade. Em 35 idosos com idade média de 69,6±7,1 anos foi aplicado o teste de levantar e caminhar cronometrado (TLCC, Timed up and go ou TUG) simples (TLCCS) e associado a duas tarefas motoras - carregar um copo com água (TLCCM1) e transferir moedas de um bolso para o outro (TLCCM2) - e duas cognitivas, repetir uma frase (TLCCC1) e falar os dias da semana em ordem inversa (TLCCC2), sendo aferidos os acertos e erros nessas tarefas. Houve piora significativa da média do tempo em segundos no TLCC nas tarefas duplas, independente da tarefa, e correlação significativa, de moderada (r=0,676) a quase perfeita (r=0,953), entre os tempos de cada tipo de TLCC. O número de moedas transferidas no TLCCM2 e o número de dias na semana dito em ordem inversa no TLCCC2 apresentaram correlação com o tempo gasto para realizar todas as outras tarefas. Essas duas tarefas foram as que mais afetaram o tempo do TLCC (pThe purpose was to assess the effect of six different dual tasks in community dwelling elderly. Thirty-five volunteers (aged 69.6±7.1 years) were submitted to the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and to further five tasks wherein TUG was associated to two motor tasks - carrying a glass of water (TUGM1) and transferring coins from one pocket to another (TUGM2); to two cognitive tasks - repeating a sentence (TUGC1) and saying weekdays backwards (TUGC2); and to a motor-cognitive task, of carrying a glass of water while repeating a sentence (TUGMC). Time spent, failure and success in each task were counted. Results showed a significant decrease in average time (in seconds) spent in TUG when associated with all tasks; and a significant correlation from moderate (r=0.676) to almost perfect (r=0.953) between the times of each association with TUG. The number of transferred coins in TUGM2 and the number of days of the week correctly said in TUGC2 showed a correlation with the time spent in all the other tasks. These two tasks most affected the time spent to accomplish TUG (p<0.001). Hence, dwelling community elderly showed a decrease in performance at all dual tasks associated to TUG. The worst functional performances were transferring coins from one pocket to another and saying weekdays backwards, showing that task complexity, rather than task nature, had greater impact on the time spent to perform TUG