@article{ART003311251},
author={Woohee Han and HyunJin Kim and Jungsoo Lee},
title={Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults},
journal={Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine},
issn={1975-311X},
year={2026},
volume={21},
number={1},
pages={43-52}
TY - JOUR
AU - Woohee Han
AU - HyunJin Kim
AU - Jungsoo Lee
TI - Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults
JO - Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
PY - 2026
VL - 21
IS - 1
PB - The Korean Society of Physical Medicine
SP - 43
EP - 52
SN - 1975-311X
AB - PURPOSE: Cognitive decline and mobility impairment are common in older adults, but the links between specific cognitive domains and complex gait remain underexplored. This study examined the associations between multiple cognitive function subdomains and the functional mobility tasks of varying complexity in community-dwelling older adults, while accounting for age and education as potential confounders.
METHODS: One hundred and five older adults underwent comprehensive cognitive assessments covering attention, language, visuospatial, memory, and frontal/executive functions. Functional mobility was assessed with the 10-Meter Walk Test at comfortable and maximum speed (10MWT_Comf, 10MWT_Max), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Four Square Step Test (FSST). Bivariate and partial correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between cognition and mobility, with effect sizes.
RESULTS: The cognitive function was significantly correlated with all functional mobility measures, with stronger associations observed for more complex tasks such as TUG and FSST. After adjusting for age and education, only FSST, TUG, and 10MWT_Max remained significant. The cognitive subdomains were correlated with all gait and mobility measures in raw scores. These associations were reduced after adjusting for age and education, except for the frontal/executive domain.
CONCLUSION: Mobility tasks requiring executive control, attention, and visuospatial processing are closely linked to cognition in older adults. Although age and education influence these associations, frontal/executive function consistently predicts complex mobility performance. These findings highlight the importance of cognitively demanding mobility assessments in clinical practice and suggest that strengthening the executive function may be critical for fall prevention and interventions in aging populations.
KW - Aging;Cognitive function;Executive function;Gait;Mobility
DO -
UR -
ER -
Woohee Han, HyunJin Kim and Jungsoo Lee. (2026). Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults. Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine, 21(1), 43-52.
Woohee Han, HyunJin Kim and Jungsoo Lee. 2026, "Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults", Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine, vol.21, no.1 pp.43-52.
Woohee Han, HyunJin Kim, Jungsoo Lee "Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults" Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 21.1 pp.43-52 (2026) : 43.
Woohee Han, HyunJin Kim, Jungsoo Lee. Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults. 2026; 21(1), 43-52.
Woohee Han, HyunJin Kim and Jungsoo Lee. "Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults" Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 21, no.1 (2026) : 43-52.
Woohee Han; HyunJin Kim; Jungsoo Lee. Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults. Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine, 21(1), 43-52.
Woohee Han; HyunJin Kim; Jungsoo Lee. Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults. Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine. 2026; 21(1) 43-52.
Woohee Han, HyunJin Kim, Jungsoo Lee. Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults. 2026; 21(1), 43-52.
Woohee Han, HyunJin Kim and Jungsoo Lee. "Associations Between Cognitive Function Subdomains and Functional Mobility Complexity in Older Adults" Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 21, no.1 (2026) : 43-52.
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