Cognitive challenge as a probe to expose sex- and age-related differences during static contractions

Despite activities of daily living being frequently performed simultaneously with a cognitive task, motor function is often investigated in isolation, which can hinder the applicability of findings. This brief review presents evidence that 1) performing a cognitive challenge simultaneously with a motor task can negatively impact force steadiness and fatigability of limb muscles during a static contraction, 2) the negative impact on old adults (>65 years old), particularly older women is greater than young when a cognitive challenge is simultaneously performed with a static motor task, 3) age-related mechanisms potentially explain impairments in motor performance in the presence of a cognitive challenge, and 4) the mechanisms for the age-related decrements in motor performance can be distinct between men and women. These observations are highly relevant to the older adults, given the increased risk of accidents and injury when a motor task is performed with a high cognitive-demand task, especially in light of the expanding reliance on an aging workforce.

Automated summary

This brief review provides evidence that simultaneous performance of a cognitive challenge and a motor task can negatively affect force steadiness and muscle fatigability during a static contraction. The negative impact is greater in older adults (>65 years old), particularly older women. Age-related mechanisms may explain the impairments in motor performance in the presence of a cognitive challenge, and these mechanisms may differ between men and women. These observations are highly relevant to older adults, especially in light of the increasing reliance on an aging workforce and the risk of accidents and injury during high cognitive-demand tasks.