The power of ageism on physical function of older persons: Reversibility of age-related gait changes

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that age-associated changes in physical f unction, particularly walking performance, are influenced by ageism and tha t the activation of positive sterotypes of aging can partially reverse thes e changes. DESIGN: Randomized intervention study. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven community-dwelling men and women (63-82 years old ) who walked independently and described themselves as healthy. INTERVENTION: Thirty-minute exposure to the subconscious reinforcement of e ither a positive or negative stereotype of aging while subjects played a co mputer game. MEASUREMENTS: Pre- and postintervention measures of gait speed and percent swing time (the time spent with. one foot in the air during walking). Healt h and psychosocial status were also evaluated. RESULTS: Significant increases in walking speed (9% +/- 2%; P < .001) and p ercent swing time (percent change: 1.1% +/- 0.4%; P = .023) were observed i n subjects who received reinforcement of positive stereotypes of aging. Gai t speed and swing time did not change in those who received reinforcement o f negative stereotypes of aging. The observed improvements in gait were rel ated to the positive intervention, but were not related to age, gender, hea lth status, or psychosocial status. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotypes of aging apparently have a powerful impact on the gait of older persons. Interventions designed to enhance perceptions of old age may prove beneficial in helping to improve gait and functional indepen dence among older persons. In the future, positive changes in society's vie w of aging may also help to reduce and prevent age-related declines in func tion and the associated deleterious consequences.