Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test
IntroductionMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, leading to motor and cognitive impairment. These impairments become especially evident during dual-tasks, such as walking while performing a cognitive activity. Previous research has highlighted...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| author | Lea Kremer Lea Kremer Lucas Schreff Daniel Hamacher Patrick Oschmann Patrick Oschmann Veit Rothhammer Philipp M. Keune Philipp M. Keune Roy Müller Roy Müller Roy Müller |
| author_facet | Lea Kremer Lea Kremer Lucas Schreff Daniel Hamacher Patrick Oschmann Patrick Oschmann Veit Rothhammer Philipp M. Keune Philipp M. Keune Roy Müller Roy Müller Roy Müller |
| author_sort | Lea Kremer |
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| description | IntroductionMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, leading to motor and cognitive impairment. These impairments become especially evident during dual-tasks, such as walking while performing a cognitive activity. Previous research has highlighted changes in gait-specific parameters during dual-tasks, but the cognitive component remains underexamined in MS. This study aims to expand on prior findings by using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) to evaluate the effects of dual-tasks on gait and cognitive performance in persons with MS (PwMS) compared to healthy controls.MethodsEighty-six adults (54 PwMS and 32 healthy controls) participated. PwMS were further divided into groups with lower (MS_LCP) and higher (MS_HCP) cognitive performance based on performance on the Symbol-Digit-Modalities Test (SDMT). Gait parameters were assessed using wearable inertial sensors during single- and dual-task 3-min-walking. Statistical analyses compared gait and cognitive performance across conditions and groups.ResultsUnder dual-task conditions, PwMS showed significant changes in all gait parameters, including reduced walking speed, stride length, percentage of swing phase and toe clearance, and increased stride time and percentage of stance phase compared to single-task condition. However, under dual-task condition in PwMS only walking speed, stride length and stride time differed from healthy controls. MS_LCP exhibited greater changes in both gait and PASAT performance than MS_HCP and healthy controls. While MS_HCP showed gait parameters comparable to healthy controls during single-tasks, deficits became apparent during dual-tasks. Correlations revealed strong associations between SDMT and PASAT scores but weak links between cognitive and self-reported measures.DiscussionThe findings confirm that dual-task conditions exacerbate gait impairments in PwMS, particularly in those with lower cognitive performance. The use of PASAT as a dual-task cognitive challenge was feasible and had a considerable influence on gait. Results support the capacity sharing theory, suggesting that limited cognitive resources are redistributed between tasks under dual-task conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d02e79ec7864c788fcf2bcd64e67709 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d02e79ec7864c788fcf2bcd64e677092025-08-20T03:01:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-03-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15461831546183Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition TestLea Kremer0Lea Kremer1Lucas Schreff2Daniel Hamacher3Patrick Oschmann4Patrick Oschmann5Veit Rothhammer6Philipp M. Keune7Philipp M. Keune8Roy Müller9Roy Müller10Roy Müller11Departments of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, Bayreuth, GermanyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, GermanyDepartments of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Sports Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, GermanyDepartments of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, Bayreuth, GermanyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, GermanyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, GermanyDepartments of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Cognition, Emotion and Neuropsychology, Otto-Friedrich-University, Bamberg, GermanyDepartments of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, Bayreuth, GermanyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, GermanyBayreuth Center of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, GermanyIntroductionMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, leading to motor and cognitive impairment. These impairments become especially evident during dual-tasks, such as walking while performing a cognitive activity. Previous research has highlighted changes in gait-specific parameters during dual-tasks, but the cognitive component remains underexamined in MS. This study aims to expand on prior findings by using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) to evaluate the effects of dual-tasks on gait and cognitive performance in persons with MS (PwMS) compared to healthy controls.MethodsEighty-six adults (54 PwMS and 32 healthy controls) participated. PwMS were further divided into groups with lower (MS_LCP) and higher (MS_HCP) cognitive performance based on performance on the Symbol-Digit-Modalities Test (SDMT). Gait parameters were assessed using wearable inertial sensors during single- and dual-task 3-min-walking. Statistical analyses compared gait and cognitive performance across conditions and groups.ResultsUnder dual-task conditions, PwMS showed significant changes in all gait parameters, including reduced walking speed, stride length, percentage of swing phase and toe clearance, and increased stride time and percentage of stance phase compared to single-task condition. However, under dual-task condition in PwMS only walking speed, stride length and stride time differed from healthy controls. MS_LCP exhibited greater changes in both gait and PASAT performance than MS_HCP and healthy controls. While MS_HCP showed gait parameters comparable to healthy controls during single-tasks, deficits became apparent during dual-tasks. Correlations revealed strong associations between SDMT and PASAT scores but weak links between cognitive and self-reported measures.DiscussionThe findings confirm that dual-task conditions exacerbate gait impairments in PwMS, particularly in those with lower cognitive performance. The use of PASAT as a dual-task cognitive challenge was feasible and had a considerable influence on gait. Results support the capacity sharing theory, suggesting that limited cognitive resources are redistributed between tasks under dual-task conditions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1546183/fullmultiple sclerosisMS25-foot-walkinertial sensorscognitionexecutive functions |
| spellingShingle | Lea Kremer Lea Kremer Lucas Schreff Daniel Hamacher Patrick Oschmann Patrick Oschmann Veit Rothhammer Philipp M. Keune Philipp M. Keune Roy Müller Roy Müller Roy Müller Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test Frontiers in Neurology multiple sclerosis MS 25-foot-walk inertial sensors cognition executive functions |
| title | Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test |
| title_full | Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test |
| title_short | Cognitive-motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited: a dual-task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test |
| title_sort | cognitive motor interference in multiple sclerosis revisited a dual task paradigm using wearable inertial sensors and the paced auditory serial addition test |
| topic | multiple sclerosis MS 25-foot-walk inertial sensors cognition executive functions |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1546183/full |
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