Article

Besides cognitive decline, dementia is characterized by gait changes and
increased fall risk, also in early stages of the disease. The aim of this study
was to investigate differences in the relationship between executive function and
gait variability and stability during single task and dual task walking in
persons with and without dementia. The study sample consisted of three groups:
fifteen dementia patients (aged 75-87), fourteen healthy elderly (aged 75-85),
and twelve relatively younger elderly (aged 55-70). Participants underwent
neuropsychological testing and tests of single and dual task walking while
wearing an accelerometer. Outcome measures include stride related measures such
as mean and coefficient of variation of stride time, and dynamic measures
regarding the magnitude, smoothness, predictability and local stability of trunk
accelerations. Patients with dementia exhibited a significantly (p<.05) less
variable, but more irregular trunk acceleration pattern than cognitively intact
elderly on single and dual task walking. The walking pattern during dual tasking
for the whole group became increasingly unstable, even though participants
modified their gait pattern by slowing their walking speed, and decreasing the
magnitude of trunk accelerations. Moderate to high correlations (r>.51) were
found between executive tasks and gait parameters. In conclusion, these findings
indicate that decreased executive function plays an important role in increased
gait variability in dementia patients; a fact that should be considered when
designing fall risk interventions for this population. Furthermore, results
indicate that measures of gait variability and stability should be deemed
worthwhile in the diagnosis of dementia.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS