Fear of falling and activities of daily living function: mediation effect of dual-task ability

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the association between fear of falling (FOF), dual-task ability during a mobility task, and the activities of daily living (ADL) in a sample of older adults. Methods: Seventy-six older adults (mean age M = 70.87 ± 5.16 years) participated in the study. Data on FOF (using the Falls Self-Efficacy Scale-International), walking ability during both single- and dual-task performances and ADL were collected. Results: Mediation analysis demonstrated the mediation effect of dual-task ability (β = 0.238, p = 0.011) between FOF and ADL level (β = 0.559, p < 0.001). Moreover, significantly lower performances were observed during dual-task condition [F (2, 73) = 7.386, p < 0.001], and lower ADL levels were also found in older adults with FOF [F (2, 73) = 13.734, p < 0.001]. Conclusion: The study underlines the relationship between FOF, dual-task ability and ADL level. These results could be used to develop specific intervention programmes for successful ageing

Comprehensive analysis of Hox gene expression in the amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis.

Hox genes play crucial roles in establishing regional identity along the anterior-posterior axis in bilaterian animals, and have been implicated in generating morphological diversity throughout evolution. Here we report the identification, expression, and initial genomic characterization of the complete set of Hox genes from the amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis. Parhyale is an emerging model system that is amenable to experimental manipulations and evolutionary comparisons among the arthropods. Our analyses indicate that the Parhyale genome contains a single copy of each canonical Hox gene with the exception of fushi tarazu, and preliminary mapping suggests that at least some of these genes are clustered together in the genome. With few exceptions, Parhyale Hox genes exhibit both temporal and spatial colinearity, and expression boundaries correlate with morphological differences between segments and their associated appendages. This work represents the most comprehensive analysis of Hox gene expression in a crustacean to date, and provides a foundation for functional studies aimed at elucidating the role of Hox genes in arthropod development and evolution

Age-related decrements in dual-task performance: comparison of different mobility and cognitive tasks. A cross sectional study

This cross-sectional study investigated the age-related differences in dual-task performance both in mobility and cognitive tasks and the additive dual-task costs in a sample of older, middle-aged and young adults. 74 older adults (M = 72.63±5.57 years), 58 middle-aged adults (M = 46.69±4.68 years) and 63 young adults (M = 25.34±3.00 years) participated in the study. Participants performed different mobility and subtraction tasks under both single- and dual-task conditions. Linear regressions, repeated-measures and one-way analyses of covariance were used, The results showed: significant effects of the age on the dual and mobility tasks (p<0.05) and differences among the age-groups in the combined dual-task costs (p<0.05); significant decreases in mobility performance under dual-task conditions in all groups (p<0.05) and a decrease in cognitive performance in the older group (p<0.05). Dual-task activity affected mobility and cognitive performance, especially in older adults who showed a higher dual-task cost, suggesting that dual-tasks activities are affected by the age and consequently also mobility and cognitive tasks are negatively influenced

De novo assembly and characterization of a maternal and developmental transcriptome for the emerging model crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, but their genomic resources are relatively few. While the genome of the branchiopod <it>Daphnia pulex </it>is now available, no other large-scale crustacean genomic resources are available for comparison. In particular, genomic resources are lacking for the most tractable laboratory model of crustacean development, the amphipod <it>Parhyale hawaiensis</it>. Insight into shared and divergent characters of crustacean genomes will facilitate interpretation of future developmental, biomedical, and ecological research using crustacean models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To generate a transcriptome enriched for maternally provided and zygotically transcribed developmental genes, we created cDNA from ovaries and embryos of <it>P. hawaiensis</it>. Using 454 pyrosequencing, we sequenced over 1.1 billion bases of this cDNA, and assembled them <it>de novo </it>to create, to our knowledge, the second largest crustacean genomic resource to date. We found an unusually high proportion of C2H2 zinc finger-containing transcripts, as has also been reported for the genome of the pea aphid <it>Acyrthosiphon pisum</it>. Consistent with previous reports, we detected trans-spliced transcripts, but found that they did not noticeably impact transcriptome assembly. Our assembly products yielded 19,067 unique BLAST hits against <b>nr </b>(E-value cutoff e-10). These included over 400 predicted transcripts with significant similarity to <it>D. pulex </it>sequences but not to sequences of any other animal. Annotation of several hundred genes revealed <it>P. hawaiensis </it>homologues of genes involved in development, gametogenesis, and a majority of the members of six major conserved metazoan signaling pathways.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The amphipod <it>P. hawaiensis </it>has higher transcript complexity than known insect transcriptomes, and trans-splicing does not appear to be a major contributor to this complexity. We discuss the importance of a reliable comparative genomic framework within which to consider findings from new crustacean models such as <it>D. pulex </it>and <it>P. hawaiensis</it>, as well as the need for development of further substantial crustacean genomic resources.</p

Dual-task training in older adults: The effect of additional motor tasks on mobility performance

Objectives Dual-task (DT) performance is common to most activities of daily living and difficulties in DT activities may reduce quality of life in older adults. This study investigated the effect of DT training in a sample of older adults. Methods Sixty older adults (mean = 74.4 \ub1 3.1 years) participated in the study. Twenty-two older adults were included in the control (CG), 19 in the single-task (ST) training and 19 in DT training group. ST group received balance and walking training twice a week for16 weeks, while DT training group performed the same training with additional motor tasks. Data were gathered on 6 m timed walk (6MTW), timed up and go test (TUG) and four square step test (FSST). DT conditions required participants to complete 6MTW, TUG and FSST, either (i) while carrying a glass of water or (ii) while carrying a ball on a round tray. Results A significant Group x Time interaction was found in TUG (F [2,57] = 29.5; p &lt; 0.01; partial \u3b7 2 = 0.51) and in FSST (F [2,57] = 23.2; p &lt; 0.01; partial \u3b7 2 = 0.44). After intervention DT showed better scores in overall TUG (mean difference = 1.21 s [95% CI, 0.82\u20131.60]; p &lt; 0.05) and FSST (mean difference = 2.51 s [95% CI, 1.67\u20133.35]; p &lt; 0.01), whereas CG and ST did not exhibit significant changes. Conclusion Our results suggested that 16 weeks of motor DT training, using motor additional tasks as manipulation of common objects of everyday life, could improve mobility in older age

Dual-task e cammino: interferenze del doppio compito nella popolazione anziana. Una rassegna della letteratura

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Fear of falling and motor functionality. A longitudinal and multidimensional study among older adults in a long-term residential care setting [Paura di cadere e funzionalità motoria. Uno studio longitudinale e multidimensionale tra anziani ospiti in struttura residenziale]

In everyday life, older adults may often find difficulties to deal situations requiring the performance of different actions simultaneously. This study investigates the walking performance during dual-task conditions and the possible relationship with fear of falling in a group of older adults living in a long-term care setting. Fifteen older adults (average age M = 79±10 years) carried out a walking test in single-task and the same test in different dual-task conditions. Data on the fear of falling were collected. Results showed a reduction of walking speed under dual-task condition. Moreover a performance decline over the time was observed. Significant correlations were observed between dual-task conditions and fear of falling. The results underline the difficulties during dual-task condition in old age and the relationship with the fear of falling. This information may be useful for the development of specific physical and cognitive intervention