Enhanced gait variability index and cognitive performance in Asian adults: Results from the Yishun Study

​Background
Although gait variability has been linked to cognitive decline among older adults, the lack of a comprehensive composite gait variability score has dampened the application of gait variability.

Research question

Does the enhanced gait variability index (EGVI) - a composite score gait variability index - provide differential and useful information on cognitive decline in community-dwelling adults from that using gait speed?

Methods

Healthy community-dwelling adults (n = 311) aged 21–90 were individually administered the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Habitual gait speed and spatiotemporal parameters were measured using a 6 m instrumented walkway system. The EGVI for each participant was calculated from five spatiotemporal parameters - step length(cm), step time(s), stance time(s), single support time(s) and stride velocity(cm/s). Linear regression models, controlling for age, gender, and education, were built to examine the independent effects of EGVI or gait speed on global cognition and individual domains.

Results

Multiple regression revealed that gait speed contributed significantly to the performance of the domain “Attention” (p = 0.04) whereas EGVI contributed significantly for the performance of the domain “Visuospatial” (p = 0.04) and “Delayed Memory” (p = 0.02).

Significance

EGVI provides differential and useful information from using gait speed alone. The EGVI may offer a solution to measure or track GV changes in relation to cognitive changes.

SOURCE:
Gait & Posture

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.07.156

AUTHOR(S):
Jabbar KA, Tan DGH, Seah JWT, Lau LK, Pang BW, Ng DHM, Tan QLL, Chen KK, Jagadish MU, Ng TP, Wee SL