The complexity of walking. Cognitive control of gait in aging and Parkinson's disease
Publication year
2017Author(s)
Publisher
[S.l. : s.n.]
ISBN
9789462841130
Number of pages
235 p.
Annotation
27 oktober 2017
Promotores : Olde Rikkert, M.G.M., Bloem, B.R.
Co-promotores : Reelick, M.F, Helmich, R.C.G.
Radboud University, 27 oktober 2017
Promotores : Olde Rikkert, M.G.M., Bloem, B.R.
Co-promotores : Reelick, M.F., Helmich, R.C.G.
Publication type
Dissertation

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Organization
Geriatrics
Subject
Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience; Radboudumc 1: Alzheimer`s disease; 170 000 Cognitive Control; Radboudumc 1: Alzheimer`s disease DCMN: Donders Center for Medical NeuroscienceAbstract
Many older adults, especially those with Parkinson’s disease, experience difficulties during walking. Mainly complex situations that require another action next to walking itself (talking, thinking or navigating) often lead to falls. In this thesis, we investigated the neural causes underlying these walking difficulties (by using fNIRS and fMRI). Interesting results were that older adults with Parkinson’s disease did not show increased activity in frontal brain areas during complex compared to simple walking. Walking probably takes much attention (reflected in increased frontal activity), which cannot be further increased in more complex situations. Besides, we found that deep within the brain (in the putamen), older adults with Parkinson’s disease showed altered activity during complex situations. Possibly, Parkinson‘s disease caused brain networks that normally are nicely segregated to be intertwined. This could be another mechanism underlying the inability to combine two tasks. In older adults without Parkinson’s disease, we did not find altered brain activity. Especially in Parkinson’s disease, the results of this thesis provide new insights and opportunities for development of therapies to improve walking.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [202863]
- Dissertations [12257]
- Electronic publications [101087]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [80039]
- Open Access publications [69750]
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