CORRELATION OF WALKING SPEED AND TIME UP TO GO (TUG) WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract

It's commonly known that gait disturbance is related with Alzheimer's disease in its late stage. But studies showed that gait disturbance may start in the early stage of AD or even MCI. We aim to explore the walking speed and time up to go (TUG) in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. 18 patients with AD, 20 with MCI and 20 control subjects were enrolled into this study. All subjects were diagnosed by NINCDS-ADRDA criteria 2011and examined by MOCA, MMSE, WAIS and designed to walk in two assigned conditions: si ngle task (free gait) and dual task (walking and counting down). The gait parameters in two conditions were measured. The subjects were followd every 6 months within 2 years. In free walking condition, both step velocity and TUG were significantly lower in AD group and MCI group than in the controls group, while there was no significant difference between AD and MCI group. In dual task condition, the step velocity and TUG decreased significantly in AD but there was no significant decrease in MCI. Compared with free and dual task, there was no difference between control group, but gate velocity decreased significantly in AD group with dual task whilst TUG decreased significantly in MCI group with counting down. There was decrease tendency of speed velocity and TUG with time went on in MCI and AD group. Gait disturbance can be found even in early stage of dementia and decreses with time. The TUG and gait speed are reliable parameters to use with people with AD, even with MCI.