Characterization of EEG power spectrum correlates of standing and walking in older adults: A scoping review

AIM: Growing evidence suggests that age-related declines in balance and gait are major contributors to falls, loss of independence, and reduced quality of life in older adults, yet the underlying neural mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The aim of this scoping review was to provide an overview of electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum correlates of balance and gait control when standing or walking quietly, and while responding to sensory, mechanical, or cognitive disturbances, in older adults. This knowledge would be important for developing targeted interventions and rehabilitation strategies aimed at enhancing neural function, improving balance and gait, and ultimately reducing the risk of falls and disability among older adults. We further investigated within the identified studies the types of methods used for EEG signal acquisition, preprocessing, and motion artifact removal. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for articles published between 1999 and 2025 using the keywords EEG, brain activity, gait, balance, aging, older adults, and other related search terms. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR for a scoping review. RESULTS: A total of 14 articles were included in this review. This scoping review found that in older adults, increasing the difficulty of standing and walking tasks increased delta, theta, and gamma activity, and decreased alpha and beta activity, in the frontal and central regions of the brain. When compared to younger adults, older adults exhibited greater theta and gamma activity, yet lesser alpha and beta activity, during both standing and walking tasks over sensory and motor areas of the brain. CONCLUSION: Knowledge synthesized in this review provides insight into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying standing and walking in older adults. The findings of this scoping may lead to developing personalized interventions, such as using non-intensive brain stimulation, to target certain brain activity, which might eventually reduce the risk of falls and disability among older adults.