Cognitive and motor inhibition in balance-related tasks: task-specific associations with executive and physical functions in young and older adults.

Significant age-related differences were observed in most general tests of executive and physical functions between young and older adults.

• Young adults (YA): 26 ± 4 years, n=26; Older adults (OA): 70 ± 4 years, n=46
• General tests included measures of inhibition and other executive functions as well as physical functions
• Significant age-related differences were observed in 'most general tests' assessed

In young adults, cognitive inhibition in the balance-related task correlated with reaction-time and failure-rate in Go/no-go and Stop-signal tests.

• These correlations were observed specifically in young adults (n=26)
• Cognitive inhibition in the BRT was associated with both reaction-time and failure-rate outcomes in Go/no-go and Stop-signal tests
• These patterns of correlation were not observed in older adults

In young adults, motor inhibition in the balance-related task showed a low, non-significant correlation with stop-signal reaction-time in the Stop-signal test.

• The correlation between motor inhibition in the BRT and stop-signal reaction-time was described as 'low non-significant'
• This contrasts with cognitive inhibition, which showed significant correlations with inhibition tests
• This differential pattern supports the notion that cognitive and motor inhibition in BRTs represent different aspects of inhibitory control

Correlations between the two balance-related tasks were low and non-significant in both young and older adults.

• Low and non-significant correlations between BRTs were found in both YA and OA groups
• This lack of correlation supports the interpretation that the two BRTs comprise different aspects of inhibitory control
• One BRT assessed cognitive inhibition and the other assessed motor inhibition in balance contexts

Executive functions, rather than physical functions, were partly associated with balance-related task performance in both young and older adults.

• Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate BRT-performance using predictors from general tests of executive and physical functions
• This association was observed in both YA and OA groups
• Physical functions showed weaker associations with BRT-performance compared to executive functions

The absence of correlations between cognitive inhibition in balance-related tasks and general inhibition tests in older adults may reflect compensatory processes and age-related changes in cognitive functions.

• Patterns of correlation observed in young adults between BRT cognitive inhibition and Go/no-go and Stop-signal tests were not replicated in older adults (n=46)
• The authors attribute this absence to 'compensatory processes and age-related changes in cognitive functions'
• This suggests that the relationship between balance-specific and general inhibitory control may differ fundamentally between age groups