Does the type of concurrent task affect preferred and cued gait in people with Parkinson's disease?

Difficulty performing more than one task at a time is common in people with Parkinson's disease, resulting in interference with one or both tasks. While studies have shown that greater interference in gait occurs with more complex concurrent tasks, the impact of the type of concurrent task is unclear in the Parkinson's population. Thus the first purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the concurrent task (calculation, language, or motor) on gait in people with Parkinson's disease. As visual cues are commonly used to aid stride regulation in people with Parkinson's disease, the second purpose of this study was to determine whether this method of increasing stride length was still effective if other tasks were performed simultaneously. Sixteen patients with Parkinson's disease and 16 gender- and age-matched controls performed six cognitive and motor concurrent tasks when seated, walking 10 m, and walking over visual cues. Stride length decreased in people with Parkinson's disease when performing the concurrent calculation and language tasks, but not with the motor task. The language task was more complex than the calculation task, thus the effect was not due to task complexity alone. Visual cues were effective in improving stride length whist maintaining velocity in people with Parkinson's disease, even when performed under dual task conditions. These findings highlight the importance of the task when assessing and retraining dual tasking during gait, and suggest that retraining dual tasking can occur whilst simultaneously using visual aids to regulate stride length.

Number and type of substances in alcohol and drug-related completed suicides in an Australian sample

Background: The association between substance use and suicide is well-established, but evidence is scant regarding the relationship between the number, type, and level of substances and other risk factors in completed suicide across the lifespan. Aims: To examine the relationship between social/demographic characteristics and the number, type, and level of drugs present in an unrestricted age sample of completed suicides in Australia. Method: An analysis was undertaken of 893 substance-related suicides using data from the Government Statistician's Office for the years 1989-1992. Results: The number and type of substances present in suicide victims was related to the individual's gender, age, marital status, employment status, and method of suicide. Blood alcohol level was significantly different between the methods of suicide, but was unrelated to demographic characteristics of the individual. The level of antidepressants and minor tranquilizers in the individuals was also unrelated to demographic characteristics. Conclusion: Examination of the type and number of substances present in completed suicides is an important component in creating profiles of potential suicide victims.