Preserved postural control is essential for older adults` functionality and social participation. Activities of daily living are commonly performed in dual-task situations and usually studied on movement, such as walking, but the interplay between cognitive tasks and vision for static balance control in older adults remains to be studied.

This study investigated the interactions between cognitive task and visual inputs on upright postural control during aging.

64 healthy older adults performed postural stability assessment in an upright position on a stabilographic platform (Force Platform, EMG Systems) and a performance-based balance assessment (Mini-BESTest). Analysis was performed using a within-subject 2 × 2 factorial design experiment, including visual condition (Eyes-Open or Eyes-Closed) and task condition (single- or dual-task). We performed two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis to analyze the Center of Pressure (COP) variables and Mini-BESTest results.

Postural control decreased when participants performed cognitive tasks or had their eyes closed. The interaction of task condition and visual condition were detected and showed that when older adults performed the cognitive task with eyes-closed, COP total displacement and anteroposterior (AP) velocity showed a higher postural sway.

Cognitive task performance reduces the upright postural control of older adults in a quiet standing position, and the interaction between cognitive demand and visual information performance influences postural balance in older adults. Additionally, the weak correlations between Mini-BESTest and COP suggest the need for complementary assessment to better screen older adults’ populations in health services assistance.

The decrease in static balance due a cognitive task and the interaction between the cognitive task and the visual information indicate the need for preventive strategies in primary health care to maintain postural control, even in healthy older adults. The weak correlations between the clinical test used (Mini-BESTest) and the gold standard postural control assessment toll (force platform) indicate the need for complementary evaluation, but mainly, claim for the wide adoption of preventive strategies dedicated to balance.