Introduction
cognitive skills
Some cognitive skills, such as processing speed, memory, visuospatial, and executive function abilities, are linked with natural aging (Thus, as people age, their ability to manage dual-task tasks becomes limited (Regarding walking, cognitive-motor dual-task demand, such as walking and talking or walking and solving mathematical calculations (In alternating dual-task (ADT) training protocols, participants are usually asked to sometimes focus attention on motor and at times on cognitive task performance (Furthermore, although ADT training has resulted in greater functional performance in older adults, both ADT and SDT have a promising effect on functional performance (Thus, we aimed to compare the effects of a mixed dual-task protocol training in which participants underwent initially SMT and SDT interchangeably and progressed strictly with SDT regarding a control protocol in which participants only performed SMT and SDT activities alternately. Considering the experimental protocol will focus especially on tasks that simultaneously require the motor and cognitive interaction, we hypothesized the participants of this training protocol will improve gait performance, functional mobility, static and dynamic body balance, and cognition function over 24 weeks. With this work, we hope to provide clinical practice professionals with a novel dual-task training protocol that moves from simpler dual-task activities—alternating between SDT and ST—to more challenging dual-task activities, performing only simultaneous dual task.