Gait rather than cognition predicts decline in specific cognitive domains in early Parkinson's disease
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biomedical Sciences and Medical …, 2017•academic.oup.com
Background Dementia is significant in Parkinson's disease (PD) with personal and
socioeconomic impact. Early identification of risk is of upmost importance to optimize
management. Gait precedes and predicts cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
We aimed to evaluate gait characteristics as predictors of cognitive decline in newly
diagnosed PD. Methods One hundred and nineteen participants recruited at diagnosis were
assessed at baseline, 18 and 36 months. Baseline gait was characterized by variables that …
socioeconomic impact. Early identification of risk is of upmost importance to optimize
management. Gait precedes and predicts cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
We aimed to evaluate gait characteristics as predictors of cognitive decline in newly
diagnosed PD. Methods One hundred and nineteen participants recruited at diagnosis were
assessed at baseline, 18 and 36 months. Baseline gait was characterized by variables that …
Background
Dementia is significant in Parkinson’s disease (PD) with personal and socioeconomic impact. Early identification of risk is of upmost importance to optimize management. Gait precedes and predicts cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. We aimed to evaluate gait characteristics as predictors of cognitive decline in newly diagnosed PD.
Methods
One hundred and nineteen participants recruited at diagnosis were assessed at baseline, 18 and 36 months. Baseline gait was characterized by variables that mapped to five domains: pace, rhythm, variability, asymmetry, and postural control. Cognitive assessment included attention, fluctuating attention, executive function, visual memory, and visuospatial function. Mixed-effects models tested independent gait predictors of cognitive decline.
Results
Gait characteristics of pace, variability, and postural control predicted decline in fluctuating attention and visual memory, whereas baseline neuropsychological assessment performance did not predict decline.
Conclusions
This provides novel evidence for gait as a clinical biomarker for PD cognitive decline in early disease.
Oxford University Press