Development, Validity, and Reliability of the Reactive Skill Test in Older Adults

Aging is associated with cognitive and physical decline, leading to an increased risk of falls in older adults. Recent evidence highlights the critical role of cognitive functions-such as attention, memory, and executive functioning-in postural control and fall risk. This study aims to develop and validate a novel Reactive Skill Test (RST) that simultaneously assesses cognitive (reaction time, visual attention, short-term memory) and motor responses in older adults. The test involves matching colored stimuli to targets using a color-coded pod and cone setup controlled via the ReactionX system. The validity of RST will be examined through correlations with established cognitive and fall risk measures, while test-retest reliability will be assessed across separate sessions. This tool may provide early detection of cognitive-motor impairments contributing to fall risk in aging populations.