Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease · Published 2026-07-01 · DOI 10.1177/17534666261459212
Dacian Mihart, Alexandru Florian Crișan, Vlad Cărunta, Daniel Trăilă, Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu, Emanuela Tudorache, Diana Manolescu, Cristian Oancea
Background: Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (F-ILD) are associated with reduced exercise capacity and functional limitations. Motor–cognitive dual-task performance refers to the ability to perform a mobility task while simultaneously completing a cognitive task, reflecting the motor–cognitive demands of everyday multitasking. Dual-task performance has not been systematically compared between patients with F-ILD and healthy individuals. Objectives: To compare motor–cognitive dual-task performance between patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease and healthy controls, and to examine associations with clinical parameters. Design: Cross-sectional comparative study. Methods: Forty-five patients with F-ILD and 45 age-matched healthy controls completed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test under single-task and dual-task (serial subtraction) conditions. Dual-task interference (DTI) was computed as the percentage change from single-task performance. Pulmonary function tests, the six-minute walk distance (6MWT), and the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were administered. Between-group differences were assessed with the Mann–Whitney U test. Associations were examined using Spearman’s correlation and multivariable regression adjusted for age, body mass index, and comorbidity count. Results: Compared to controls, patients with F-ILD demonstrated slower TUG dual-task performance (12.35 vs 10.21 s; p = 0.0016), reduced dual-task accuracy (66.7% vs 77.8%; p < 0.001), and increased cognitive interference (36.6% vs 10.9%; p < 0.001). Physical interference was also elevated ( p = 0.0328). In ILD patients, a shorter 6MWT distance was associated with longer TUG dual-task time (ρ = −0.42, p = 0.004) and greater cognitive interference (ρ = −0.38, p = 0.009). No correlations were found with FVC, FEV 1 , or MoCA. After adjusting for confounders, ILD status independently correlated with longer TUG dual-task time ( p = 0.029), lower accuracy ( p = 0.0003), and increased cognitive DTI ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with F-ILD show significant motor and cognitive dual-task impairments compared with healthy controls, partly independent of conventional lung function measures. Trial registration: Not applicable.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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Mihart, D., Crișan, A., Cărunta, V., et al. (2026). Functional mobility under cognitive load in fibrosing interstitial lung disease: a motor–cognitive dual-task study. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/17534666261459212