In a groundbreaking research study, a team led by Professor Kim Hyung-dong (College of Health Science) has unveiled a complex relationship between aging, dual-task walking abilities, and the activation patterns of the prefrontal cortex. The findings, published in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, offer fresh insights into how our cognitive and physical faculties evolve as we age. Central to this study is the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain responsible for executive functions and higher-order cognitive processing. Driven by the hypothesis that aging can influence the prefrontal cortex and subsequently impact dual-task abilities, the team utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to observe real-time changes in blood oxygenation and map activation patterns in various prefrontal cortex subregions.

Notably, the study found that older adults exhibited altered activation patterns in various prefrontal cortex subregions when compared to their younger counterparts. These changes were closely correlated with a decline in both dual-task walking ability and cognitive functions among the elderly participants. Professor Kim Hyung-dong underscored how the altered patterns could be utilized to identify individuals with diminished executive function, who may be at a higher risk of falls. The implications extend beyond understanding the aging process; the research indeed offers a potential pathway for devising targeted interventions aimed at reducing fall-related risks in the elderly population.