%0 Journal Article
%T Cognitive Speed of Processing Training Can Promote Community Mobility among Older Adults: A Brief Review
%A Melissa L. O'Connor
%A Elizabeth M. Hudak
%A Jerri D. Edwards
%J Journal of Aging Research
%D 2011
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.4061/2011/430802
%X Background. Community mobility is crucial for maintaining independent functioning and quality of life for older adults. Purpose. The present paper describes the relationship of cognition, particularly speed of processing as measured by the Useful Field of View Test, to mobility as indicated by driving behaviors, life space, and falls among healthy older adults. Research examining the impact of cognitive speed of processing training (SOPT) on older adults' community mobility (i.e., driving behaviors) is also summarized. Key Issues. Even slight cognitive declines can place older adults at risk for mobility limitations. However, cognitive interventions like SOPT can mitigate declines in driving mobility. Implications. The potential of SOPT to sustain community mobility among older adults is discussed. 1. Introduction Mobility may be defined as the ability to move through one¡¯s environment in order to complete a task or achieve a goal [1, 2]. Continued mobility is crucial for maintaining independent functioning and quality of life [3, 4]. Yet, mobility limitations increase with age [3]. Decreased mobility among older adults, defined in this paper as individuals 55 years of age and older, may result from numerous factors such as failing health [3] and vision [5]. Age-related declines in aspects of cognition, including memory, reasoning, executive functioning, and speed of processing [6], may also predict mobility among community-dwelling older adults without dementia [7]. The Useful Field of View Test (UFOV, a registered trademark of Visual Awareness, Inc.) is a cognitive measure of visual processing speed for attentional tasks [8, 9] that has consistently emerged as a predictor of mobility. This paper describes the relationship of cognitive speed of processing, as measured by UFOV, to community mobility as indicated by driving, life space, and the occurrence of falls. The relationship of UFOV to mobility is of particular interest in that UFOV difficulties can be rehabilitated with training [10¨C12]. Research has indicated that speed of processing training (SOPT), a cognitive intervention, not only improves speed of processing but also transfers to prolonged safe driving mobility among older adults [13, 14]. Research examining the impact of this intervention on older adults¡¯ driving mobility is summarized. The potential of such cognitive interventions to sustain mobility and quality of life among older adults is discussed. 2. Driving, Life Space, and Falls Driving is an important aspect of community mobility, particularly for older adults in the United States
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2011/430802/