• Yosuke Osuka, Narumi Kojima, Ryota Sakurai, Yutaka Watanabe, and Hunkyung Kim.
• Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
• Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2020 Apr 1; 20 (4): 291-296.

AimThis study aimed to examine the reliability and construct validity of the Stepping Trail Making Test (S-TMT) in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsThis study comprised a cross-sectional study based on a population sample. Participants comprised 1224 community-dwelling older Japanese women aged 65-81 years without functional disability, dementia, depression, Parkinson's disease, or cognitive and visual impairments. The S-TMT measured the time taken to step on a sequence of numbers (1-16) positioned on a mat (1 m2 ). Participants were instructed to step as quickly and accurately as possible. Motor functions were assessed by walking speed and knee extensor strength tests, while cognitive functions were assessed by the Symbol Digit Substitution Task (SDST) test, verbal and logical memory test, and TMT-A and -B.ResultsAs a result of test-retest reliability over 6 months, the intraclass correlation coefficients of the S-TMT was 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.90). An adjusted multiple regression model indicated that the S-TMT was significantly associated with walking speed for motor function, and associated with the SDST, TMT-A and TMT-B for cognitive functions (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the S-TMT is a reliable dual-task test comprising mobility for motor function and a visual-dependent execution function for cognitive function in older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 291-296.© 2020 Japan Geriatrics Society.

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