The Effect of Age on Gait Speed When Texting

• Main Authors: Linson J. Alapatt, Nancye M. Peel, Natasha Reid, Leonard C. Gray, Ruth E. Hubbard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: ageing; gait speed; physical health; dual task test; texting
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/2/599

Texting while walking exerts a high cognitive load, and may be a sensitive test of the integrity of the cognitive&#8722;motor interface. We aimed to investigate the association between chronological age and gait speed while texting. A convenience sample of 308 community-dwellers was recruited: n &#8805; 50 in each age group (20&#8722;29, 30&#8722;39, 40&#8722;49, 50&#8722;59) and n = 100 aged &#8805;60 years. Gait speed was measured over 10 metres under two experimental conditions: 1) walking at usual pace; 2) walking at usual pace while texting the message &#8220;Good morning Harry&#8221; on their smartphone. Both median gait speed with and without texting decreased with increasing age (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). The differences between single- and dual-task gait speed were substantial for each age group and increased after the age of 50 years (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Median gait speeds while texting in people aged 50&#8722;59 (1.07 m/s) and &#8805;60 years (1.00 m/s) were below the recommended minimum for safely crossing roads (1.20 m/s). Texting while walking currently exposes people aged 50 and over to considerable environmental hazards. The significant slowing of gait speed while texting from middle age may be a marker of neurodegeneration, a cohort effect, or an appropriate compensatory response to reduce the risk of injury.