Motor–cognitive interactions in older adults: reliability and comparison of Trail Walking and Stepping Trail Making Tests

Johannes Riis; Steffen Wølke; Mathias Brix Danielsen; Mette Merete Pedersen; Stig Andersen; Martin Grønbech Jørgensen

doi:10.1007/s41999-025-01240-w

Motor–cognitive interactions in older adults: reliability and comparison of Trail Walking and Stepping Trail Making Tests

Johannes Riis^*, Steffen Wølke, Mathias Brix Danielsen, Mette Merete Pedersen, Stig Andersen, Martin Grønbech Jørgensen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the reliability and the correlation of the Stepping Trail Making Test (S-TMT) and Trail Walking Test (TWT) in a European older adult population. Findings: Both S-TMT and TWT demonstrated good-to-excellent test-retest reliability. Further, a moderate correlation was found between S-TMT and TWT, suggesting that they evaluate different aspects of motor–cognitive function. Message: These findings support the integration of both tests into geriatric assessments for better identification of fall risk and cognitive decline.

Original language	English
Journal	European Geriatric Medicine
Volume	16
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	1617-1625
ISSN	1878-7649
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01240-w
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

Keywords

Cognition
Cognitive–motor interaction
Dual task testing
Falls

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Cite this

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abstract = "Aim: To evaluate the reliability and the correlation of the Stepping Trail Making Test (S-TMT) and Trail Walking Test (TWT) in a European older adult population. Findings: Both S-TMT and TWT demonstrated good-to-excellent test-retest reliability. Further, a moderate correlation was found between S-TMT and TWT, suggesting that they evaluate different aspects of motor–cognitive function. Message: These findings support the integration of both tests into geriatric assessments for better identification of fall risk and cognitive decline.",

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T2 - reliability and comparison of Trail Walking and Stepping Trail Making Tests

AU - Riis, Johannes

AU - Wølke, Steffen

AU - Danielsen, Mathias Brix

AU - Pedersen, Mette Merete

AU - Andersen, Stig

AU - Jørgensen, Martin Grønbech

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PY - 2025

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N2 - Aim: To evaluate the reliability and the correlation of the Stepping Trail Making Test (S-TMT) and Trail Walking Test (TWT) in a European older adult population. Findings: Both S-TMT and TWT demonstrated good-to-excellent test-retest reliability. Further, a moderate correlation was found between S-TMT and TWT, suggesting that they evaluate different aspects of motor–cognitive function. Message: These findings support the integration of both tests into geriatric assessments for better identification of fall risk and cognitive decline.

AB - Aim: To evaluate the reliability and the correlation of the Stepping Trail Making Test (S-TMT) and Trail Walking Test (TWT) in a European older adult population. Findings: Both S-TMT and TWT demonstrated good-to-excellent test-retest reliability. Further, a moderate correlation was found between S-TMT and TWT, suggesting that they evaluate different aspects of motor–cognitive function. Message: These findings support the integration of both tests into geriatric assessments for better identification of fall risk and cognitive decline.

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KW - Cognitive–motor interaction

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