Dual-task, single challenge: functionality as an early marker of cognitive decline.

Authors

Júlia Silva de Almeida, Isabelle Louise da Silva Rosendo, Jessica Dos Santos Sacramento Plácido, Felipe de Oliveira Silva, José Vinícius Alves Ferreira, Luiz Felipe da Silva Figueiredo, Andrea Camaz Deslandes, Daniella Cristina de Assis Pinto Gomes

Published in

Dementia & neuropsychologia. Volume 20. Pages e20250349. Epub Aug 14, 2026.

Abstract

Early detection of possible cognitive decline (PwCD) is crucial for preserving function and independence in aging.
To examine whether dual-task and functional assessment tools can help detect cognitive impairment in older adults without prior diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy older adults (≥60 years). The following exclusion criteria were adopted: neurological diseases with motor deficits, severe functional limitations, mobility aid use, and inability to walk six meters unaided. Assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Verbal Fluency (VF), Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Sit-to-Stand Test (STS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Step Test, and dual-task TUG (TUGdt) using animal naming (TUGdt-NA) and serial subtraction (TUGdt-S7). Statistical analyses included t-tests, Mann-Whitney U, ꭓ² tests, and logistic regression (p≤0.05).
Among 144 participants, 89 were classified as healthy and 55 as PwCD. Most were female (90.9%), black (57.7%), with an average of 11.04 years of education. Groups did not differ in age, gender, or comorbidities. The PwCD group had lower education (p=0.01), more black individuals (p=0.03), and scored significantly worse on all cognitive tests (p<0.0001) and TUGdt (NA: p=0.040; S7: time p=0.027; accuracy p<0.001). No differences were found in STS, Step Test, BBS, or total Pfeffer scores; however, the PwCD group showed greater instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) impairment.
The ability to perform dual tasks appears to be associated with functional capacity.

PMID:
42603030
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Aug 2026.

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