Gait Velocity Variability Research Articles

Improvement in gait velocity variability after cerebrospinal fluid elimination and its relationship to clinical symptoms in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

This study aimed to investigate the improvement in gait velocity variability after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) elimination, and the association between gait velocity variability and gait and cognitive impairment in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. The gait velocity of 44 patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus was measured using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) for a total of 10 times over 3 days each before and after CSF elimination. The coefficient of variation (CV) in the time required for the sequence of actions in TUG (TUG-CV) was calculated using 10 TUG data, and used for measuring intraindividual gait velocity variability. Gait quality was evaluated with the Gait Status Scale Revised (GSSR), and cognitive function was evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Frontal Assessment Battery. The TUG, TUG-CV, GSSR and Frontal Assessment Battery results improved significantly after CSF elimination. The analyses using pre-CSF elimination results showed that the TUG-CV significantly and positively correlated with the TUG and GSSR results, and negatively with Mini-Mental State Examination results, but not with age and the Frontal Assessment Battery results. The stepwise multiple regression analysis indicates that the TUG, GSSR and Mini-Mental State Examination results were significant predictors of the TUG-CV. The analysis using data of change after CSF elimination showed that ΔTUG and ΔGSSR were significant predictors of ΔTUG-CV. Gait velocity variability improved after CSF elimination, and gait velocity variability was associated with gait disturbances and cognitive impairment in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 693-699.

Associations between gait velocity parameters and brain amyloid‐β levels in cognitive normal older adults: a cross‐sectional analysis from the AGUEDA trial

AbstractBackgroundAmyloid beta (Aβ) is a protein associated with dementia‐related pathologies such Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The accumulation of Aβ in the brain leads to neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, and motor impairment. Those factors might appear years before the onset of apparent symptoms. There is evidence for an association between gait performance and Aβ levels. Previous studies showed that gait variability has been associated with amyloid in older adults with mild dementia. Moreover, reduced gait velocity, has been associated with greater brain Aβ accumulation in adults with spontaneous memory complaints. However, the nature of this relationship needs further investigation. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the associations between gait velocity and gait velocity variability, and brain amyloid burden in cognitively normal older adults. Our hypothesis was that gait parameters might differently predict amyloid‐β levels.MethodEighty‐six cognitively normal older adults participated in this study. The Optogait system (Microgate,Italy) was used to assess gait parameters. Participants walked back and forth across a 5‐m long track made up of two bars set 1‐meter apart at their maximum walking pace for 5 minutes. The mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of gait velocity (m/s) were calculated as gait parameters. All participants underwent T1‐weighted MRI scans and [18F] Florbetaben amyloid‐PET (positron emission tomography) scans. PET images were quantified using the Centiloid (CL) method with a 12 CL cutoff for amyloid positivity. The associations between gait parameters and amyloid burden were assessed by individual linear regressions unadjusted and adjusted by age, sex, and education as covariates.ResultTable 1 shows descriptive characteristics of the participants (22% Aβ+; 19 participants). Results showed a positive trend for an association between gait variability and amyloid burden (unadjusted: β = 0.21, p = 0.05; adjusted: β = 0.20, p = 0.08). There was no association between gait velocity and amyloid burden (unadjusted: β = ‐0.08, p = 0.42; adjusted: β = ‐0.08, p = 0.54).ConclusionGreater gait velocity variability, but not gait velocity, was marginally associated with higher amyloid burden. This result suggests that gait velocity variability might be an important marker of amyloid burden in cognitively normal older adults.