Author ORCID Identifier:
Date of Graduation
7-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Exercise Science (MS)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Health, Human Performance and Recreation
Advisor/Mentor
Gray, Michelle
Committee Member
Jendro, Ashlyn
Second Committee Member
Jones, Megan
Keywords
Alzheimer's Disease; Cognition; Dementia; Dual-Task; Older Adult; RBANS
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is increasing in prevalence as life expectancy continues to rise, highlighting the need for sensitive measures to detect early cognitive changes. This study examined the effects of baseline cognitive status on dual-task performance over time, in terms of dual-task cost, verbal fluency, and verbal accuracy in older adults at risk for AD. This study utilized a quantitative secondary analysis of the longitudinal dataset, the Digital, Cognitive, Multi-Domain Alzheimer Risk Velocity (DC-MARVel) study (Gray et al., 2022). Participants were categorized into low, medium, or high cognitive tertiles based on baseline Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) index and total scores. A One-way ANOVA was conducted to examine the difference in performance across cognitive tertiles at baseline. Repeated Measures ANOVA assessed changes in dual-task performance from baseline to the completion of the study, two years later. Baseline cognitive status was associated with dual-task performance despite all participants being cognitively intact. Participants generally maintained verbal fluency and accuracy while demonstrating improvements in their dual-task cost over time, suggesting the capability for reduced interference from two competing cognitive demands. These findings indicate that dual-task performance reflects executive control and attentional resource allocation beyond what is captured by traditional cognitive assessments. These findings support the concept that dual-task cost reflects more than the success or failure of a task. Instead, it is reflective of an individual's ability to manage a cognitive load while focusing their attention between two competing demands. Dual-task assessments may provide a sensitive approach for detecting subtle functional changes associated with pre-clinical cognitive decline, supporting the potential use for earlier identification of individuals at risk of developing AD.
Citation
Frederichs, R. N. (2026). Impact of Baseline Cognition on Dual-Task Performance: Tracking Verbal Accuracy and Fluency in Adults at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/6358
