Identifying Mobility Types in Cognitively Heterogeneous Older Adults Based on GPS-Tracking: What Discriminates Best?

Markus Wettstein*, Hans Werner Wahl, Noam Shoval, Gail Auslander, Frank Oswald, Jeremia Heinik

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Heterogeneity in older adults' mobility and its correlates have rarely been investigated based on objective mobility data and in samples including cognitively impaired individuals. We analyzed mobility profiles within a cognitively heterogeneous sample of N = 257 older adults from Israel and Germany based on GPS tracking technology. Participants were aged between 59 and 91 years (M = 72.9; SD = 6.4) and were either cognitively healthy (CH, n = 146), mildly cognitively impaired (MCI, n = 76), or diagnosed with an early-stage dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT, n = 35). Based on cluster analysis, we identified three mobility types (Mobility restricted, Outdoor oriented, Walkers), which could be predicted based on socio-demographic indicators, activity, health, and cognitive impairment status using discriminant analysis. Particularly demented individuals and persons with worse health exhibited restrictions in mobility. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of heterogeneity in mobility in old age.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1001-1027
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Applied Gerontology
Volume34
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Southern Gerontological Society.

Keywords

  • GPS technology
  • dementia
  • mild cognitive impairment
  • mobility
  • old age

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