scholarly journals Does the Presence of Cognitive Impairment Exacerbate the Risk of Falls in People with Peripheral Neuropathy? An Application of Body-Worn Inertial Sensors to Measure Gait Variability

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gu Eon Kang ◽  
Jacqueline Yang ◽  
Bijan Najafi
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Risk Of Falls

People with peripheral neuropathy (PN) are at risk of falling. Many people with PN have comorbid cognitive impairment, an independent risk factor of falls, which may further increase the risk of falling in people with PN. However, the negative synergic effect of those factors is yet to be reported. We investigated whether the presence of cognitive impairment exacerbates the risk of falls in people with PN by measuring gait variability during single-task walking and dual-task walking. Forty-four adults with PN were recruited. Based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, 19 and 25 subjects were cognitively impaired and intact, respectively. We measured coefficients of variation of gait speed, stride length, and stride time using validated body-worn sensors. During single-task walking, no between-group differences were observed (all p > 0.05). During dual-task walking, between-group differences were significant for gait variability for gait speed and stride length (51.4% and 71.1%, respectively; p = 0.014 and 0.011, respectively). MoCA scores were significantly correlated with gait variability for gait speed (r = 0.319, p = 0.035) and stride length (r = 0.367, p = 0.014) during dual-task walking. Our findings suggest that the presence of cognitive impairment exacerbates the risk of falls in people with PN.

Digital Biomarkers of Cognitive Frailty: The Value of Detailed Gait Assessment Beyond Gait Speed

Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
He Zhou ◽  
Catherine Park ◽  
Mohammad Shahbazi ◽  
Michele K. York ◽  
Mark E. Kunik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Cognitive Frailty ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Double Support ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Digital Biomarkers

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Cognitive frailty (CF), defined as the simultaneous presence of cognitive impairment and physical frailty, is a clinical symptom in early-stage dementia with promise in assessing the risk of dementia. The purpose of this study was to use wearables to determine the most sensitive digital gait biomarkers to identify CF. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Of 121 older adults (age = 78.9 ± 8.2 years, body mass index = 26.6 ± 5.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) who were evaluated with a comprehensive neurological exam and the Fried frailty criteria, 41 participants (34%) were identified with CF and 80 participants (66%) were identified without CF. Gait performance of participants was assessed under single task (walking without cognitive distraction) and dual task (walking while counting backward from a random number) using a validated wearable platform. Participants walked at habitual speed over a distance of 10 m. A validated algorithm was used to determine steady-state walking. Gait parameters of interest include steady-state gait speed, stride length, gait cycle time, double support, and gait unsteadiness. In addition, speed and stride length were normalized by height. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Our results suggest that compared to the group without CF, the CF group had deteriorated gait performances in both single-task and dual-task walking (Cohen’s effect size <i>d</i> = 0.42–0.97, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.050). The largest effect size was observed in normalized dual-task gait speed (<i>d</i> = 0.97, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). The use of dual-task gait speed improved the area under the curve (AUC) to distinguish CF cases to 0.76 from 0.73 observed for the single-task gait speed. Adding both single-task and dual-task gait speeds did not noticeably change AUC. However, when additional gait parameters such as gait unsteadiness, stride length, and double support were included in the model, AUC was improved to 0.87. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This study suggests that gait performances measured by wearable sensors are potential digital biomarkers of CF among older adults. Dual-task gait and other detailed gait metrics provide value for identifying CF above gait speed alone. Future studies need to examine the potential benefits of gait performances for early diagnosis of CF and/or tracking its severity over time.

scholarly journals GAIT UNSTEADINESS AS AN INDICATOR OF COGNITIVE STATUS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S845-S845
Author(s):  
Gu Eon Kang ◽  
Jacqueline Yang ◽  
He Zhou ◽  
Changhong Wang ◽  
Bareera Akhtar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Additional Risk Factor ◽  
Normal Walking ◽  
Intact Group ◽  
Impaired Group ◽  
Risk Of Falls

Abstract Neuropathic individuals are at risk of falls, however potential impact of cognitive impairment in neuropathic individuals is not well-understood. Since cognitive impairment is considered an independent risk factor for falls, knowing its potential, additional impact may help better understand underlying mechanism of risk of falls in neuropathic individuals. We aimed to investigate stride-to-stride variability in neuropathic individuals with cognitive impairment (NP-Cog-Impaired) and without cognitive impairment (NP-Cog-Intact) during normal and dual-task walking. Neuropathic symptoms and cognitive status was measured using maximum vibration perception threshold (VPTmax) in the feet and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), respectively. We analyzed data from 19 NP-Cog-Impaired (8 men; 68.5±9.1 years; 29.0±6.2 kg/m2; VPTmax=27.2±12.1 volts; MoCA=19.6±2.4) and 25 NP-Cog-Intact (15 men; 66.5±9.1 years; 31.3±5.9 kg/m2; VPTmax=26.3±12.7 volts; MoCA=25.6±1.6). We collected movement data using five inertial sensors (LEGSysTM, BioSensics LLC, Watertown, MA) attached on the shanks, thighs and lower back. We used previously validated algorithm to calculate coefficient of variations (CV) of stride velocity and stride length. CV of stride velocity and stride length were significantly greater for the NP-Cog-Impaired group (11.07±5.22% and 7.31±3.20%, respectively) than for the NP-Cog-Intact group (7.31±3.20% and 4.81±2.80%, respectively) for dual-task walking but not for normal walking. Between normal and dual-task walking, CV of stride velocity and stride length increased 43.2% (significantly) and 46.4% (marginally), respectively, from normal walking to dual-task walking for the NP-Cog-Impaired group but not for the NP-Cog-Intact group. Results suggest that cognitive impairment may be an additional risk factor of falls in neuropathic individuals.

scholarly journals Functional capacity and dual-task cost in the institutionalized older adults, both affected and unaffected by mild cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Zak ◽  
Szymon Krupnik ◽  
Waldemar Brola ◽  
Dorota Rebak ◽  
Tomasz Sikorski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Institutional Care ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Motor Tasks ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Dual Task Cost

Abstract Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects 10–20% of the individuals over the age of 65; this proportion being higher in the institutional care facilities than within a general population. Aim To assess whether dual-task cost in the individuals affected by MCI depends exclusively on gait, or possibly some other functional capacity components might also come into play, as compared to the healthy controls also remaining in the institutional care. Methods The study was conducted in five nursing facilities, involving 88 subjects in total, i.e. 44 subjects affected by MCI (mean age of 83.8 years; 34 women (77.3%) and 10 men (22.7%), and 44 healthy controls (mean age 81.67 years; 38 women (84.4%) and 7 men (15.6%). Cognitive functions were assessed through Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE), while gait by Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). Gait speed was calculated by the 10 Meter Walk Test, and the fear of falling with the Falls Efficacy Scale International. Dual tasks were assessed by TUGTMAN (Timed Up and Go Test Manual) and TUGCOG (Timed Up and Go Test Cognitive). Dual Task Cost (DTC) of TUGTMAN and TUGTCOG was established. Statistical analyses were completed with STATISTICA Package v. 10. Results Individuals affected by MCI differed significantly from the unaffected ones with regard to their gait test results, when assigned a single-task activity, and dual-task activities, as well as in the gait speed. Dual Task Cost Manual (DTCMAN) in the MCI group was significantly higher, as compared to the subjects unaffected by MCI. Around 25% of the variance of DTCMAN result regarding the MCI group was accounted for by gait performance in the single-task conditions (TUGT). In the case of Dual Task Cost Cognitive (DTCCOG), this value equalled to approx. 10%. A 1% change in DTCMAN corresponded to approx. 0.5 s change in TUGT, whereas a 1% change in DTCCOG entailed approx. 0.35 s change in TUGT walking time. Conclusion Individual functional capacity affected the dual-task performance, especially the motor-motor tasks. Dual-task cost in the subjects affected by MCI was significantly reduced, being more dependent on the gait speed in the motor-motor tasks, which entailed visual memory, than in the motor-cognitive tasks.

scholarly journals Critical spatiotemporal gait parameters for individuals with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Rita Chiaramonte ◽  
Matteo Cioni
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Stride Time ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Risk Of Falls

Instrumented gait analysis allows for the identification of walking parameters to predict cognitive decline and the worsening of dementia. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to better clarify which gait parameters are affected or modified with the progression of the dementia in a larger sample, as well as which gait assessment conditions (single-task or dual-task conditions) would be more sensitive to reflect the influence of dementia. Literature searches were conducted with the keywords “quantitative gait” OR “gait analysis” AND “dementia” AND “single-task” AND “dual-task,” and for “quantitative gait” OR “gait analysis” AND “dementia” AND “fall risk” on PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science. The results were used to perform a systematic review focussing on instrumental quantitative assessment of the walking of patients with dementia, during both single and dual tasks. The search was performed independently by two authors (C. R. and C. M.) from January 2018 to April 2020 using the PICOS criteria. Nine publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Our meta-analysis showed that during a single task, most of the spatiotemporal parameters of gait discriminated best between patients with dementia and healthy controls, including speed, cadence, stride length, stride time, stride time variability, and stance time. In dual tasks, only speed, stride length, and stride time variability discriminated between the two groups. In addition, compared with spatial parameters (e.g. stride length), some temporal gait parameters were more correlated to the risk of falls during the comfortable walking in a single task, such as cadence, stride time, stride time variability, and stance time. During a dual task, only the variability of stride time was associated with the risk of falls.

Mild Cognitive Impairment Affects Obstacle Negotiation in Older Adults: Results from “Gait and Brain Study”

Gerontology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederico Pieruccini-Faria ◽  
Yanina Sarquis-Adamson ◽  
Manuel Montero-Odasso
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Control ◽  
Dual Tasking ◽  
Brain Study

Background: Older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are at higher risk of falls and injuries, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Inappropriate anticipatory postural adjustments to overcome balance perturbations are affected by cognitive decline. However, it is unknown whether anticipatory gait control to avoid an obstacle is affected in MCI. Objective: Using the dual-task paradigm, we aim to assess whether gait control is affected during obstacle negotiation challenges in older adults with MCI. Methods: Seventy-nine participants (mean age = 72.0 ± 2.7 years; women = 30.3%) from the “Gait and Brain Study” were included in this study (controls = 27; MCI = 52). In order to assess the anticipatory control behaviour for obstacle negotiation, a 6-m electronic walkway embedded with sensors recorded foot prints to measure gait speed and step length variability, during early (3 steps before the late phase) and late (3 steps before the obstacle) pre-crossing phases of an ad hoc obstacle, set at 15% of participant’s height. Participants walked under single- and dual-task gait (counting backwards by 1’s from 100 while walking) conditions. Three-way mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance models examined differences in gait performance between groups when transitioning between pre-crossing phases towards an obstacle during single- and dual-task conditions. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, years of education, lower limb function, fear of falling, medical status, depressive symptoms, baseline gait speed and executive function. Results: A significant three-way interaction among groups, pre-crossing phases and task showed that participants with MCI attenuated the gait deceleration (p = 0.02) and performed fewer step length adjustments (p = 0.03) when approaching the obstacle compared with controls while dual-tasking. These interactions were attenuated when executive function performance was added as a covariate in the adjusted statistical model. Conclusion: Older adults with MCI attenuate the anticipatory gait adjustments needed to avoid an obstacle when dual-tasking. Deficits in higher-order cognitive processing may limit obstacle negotiation capabilities in MCI populations, being a potential falls risk factor.

scholarly journals Impaired attentional modulation of sensorimotor control and cortical excitability in schizophrenia

Brain ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (7) ◽  
pp. 2149-2164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loïc Carment ◽  
Lucile Dupin ◽  
Laura Guedj ◽  
Maxime Térémetz ◽  
Marie-Odile Krebs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Tracking Error ◽  
Sensorimotor Control ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Dual Task Condition ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Force Tracking

Abstract Impairments in attentional, working memory and sensorimotor processing have been consistently reported in schizophrenia. However, the interaction between cognitive and sensorimotor impairments and the underlying neural mechanisms remains largely uncharted. We hypothesized that altered attentional processing in patients with schizophrenia, probed through saccadic inhibition, would partly explain impaired sensorimotor control and would be reflected as altered task-dependent modulation of cortical excitability and inhibition. Twenty-five stabilized patients with schizophrenia, 17 unaffected siblings and 25 healthy control subjects were recruited. Subjects performed visuomotor grip force-tracking alone (single-task condition) and with increased cognitive load (dual-task condition). In the dual-task condition, two types of trials were randomly presented: trials with visual distractors (requiring inhibition of saccades) or trials with addition of numbers (requiring saccades and addition). Both dual-task trial types required divided visual attention to the force-tracking target and to the distractor or number. Gaze was measured during force-tracking tasks, and task-dependent modulation of cortical excitability and inhibition were assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation. In the single-task, patients with schizophrenia showed increased force-tracking error. In dual-task distraction trials, force-tracking error increased further in patients, but not in the other two groups. Patients inhibited fewer saccades to distractors, and the capacity to inhibit saccades explained group differences in force-tracking performance. Cortical excitability at rest was not different between groups and increased for all groups during single-task force-tracking, although, to a greater extent in patients (80%) compared to controls (40%). Compared to single-task force-tracking, the dual-task increased cortical excitability in control subjects, whereas patients showed decreased excitability. Again, the group differences in cortical excitability were no longer significant when failure to inhibit saccades was included as a covariate. Cortical inhibition was reduced in patients in all conditions, and only healthy controls increased inhibition in the dual-task. Siblings had similar force-tracking and gaze performance as controls but showed altered task-related modulation of cortical excitability and inhibition in dual-task conditions. In patients, neuropsychological scores of attention correlated with visuomotor performance and with task-dependant modulation of cortical excitability. Disorganization symptoms were greatest in patients with weakest task-dependent modulation of cortical excitability. This study provides insights into neurobiological mechanisms of impaired sensorimotor control in schizophrenia showing that deficient divided visual attention contributes to impaired visuomotor performance and is reflected in impaired modulation of cortical excitability and inhibition. In siblings, altered modulation of cortical excitability and inhibition is consistent with a genetic risk for cortical abnormality.

scholarly journals Head-Mounted and Hand-Held Displays Diminish the Effectiveness of Fall-Resisting Skills

Sensors ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 344
Author(s):  
Anika Weber ◽  
Julian Werth ◽  
Gaspar Epro ◽  
Daniel Friemert ◽  
Ulrich Hartmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Stability Control ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Inverted Pendulum Model ◽  
Counter Rotation ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Optical Motion

Use of head-mounted displays (HMDs) and hand-held displays (HHDs) may affect the effectiveness of stability control mechanisms and impair resistance to falls. This study aimed to examine whether the ability to control stability during locomotion is diminished while using HMDs and HHDs. Fourteen healthy adults (21–46 years) were assessed under single-task (no display) and dual-task (spatial 2-n-back presented on the HMD or the HHD) conditions while performing various locomotor tasks. An optical motion capture system and two force plates were used to assess locomotor stability using an inverted pendulum model. For perturbed standing, 57% of the participants were not able to maintain stability by counter-rotation actions when using either display, compared to the single-task condition. Furthermore, around 80% of participants (dual-task) compared to 50% (single-task) showed a negative margin of stability (i.e., an unstable body configuration) during recovery for perturbed walking due to a diminished ability to increase their base of support effectively. However, no evidence was found for HMDs or HHDs affecting stability during unperturbed locomotion. In conclusion, additional cognitive resources required for dual-tasking, using either display, are suggested to result in delayed response execution for perturbed standing and walking, consequently diminishing participants’ ability to use stability control mechanisms effectively and increasing the risk of falls.

Identification of Postconcussion Dual-Task Gait Abnormalities Using Normative Reference Values

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 290-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Howell ◽  
Thomas A. Buckley ◽  
Brant Berkstresser ◽  
Francis Wang ◽  
William P. Meehan
Keyword(s):  
Reference Values ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Normative Values ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Abnormal Gait ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Gait Abnormalities

The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of abnormal single-task and dual-task gait performance following concussion compared to uninjured controls using previously established normative reference values. The authors examined athletes with a concussion (n = 54; mean age = 20.3 [1.1] y, 46% female, tested 2.9 [1.5] d postinjury), and healthy controls were tested during their preseason baseline examination (n = 60; mean age = 18.9 [0.7] y, 37% female). Participants completed an instrumented single-/dual-task gait evaluation. Outcome variables included average walking speed, cadence, and step length. A significantly greater number of those with concussion walked with abnormal dual-task gait speed compared with the control group (56% vs 30%,P = .01). After adjusting for potential confounding variables (age, concussion history, symptom severity, and sleep), concussion was associated with lower dual-task gait speed (β = −0.150; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.252 to −0.047), cadence (β = −8.179; 95% CI = −14.49 to −1.871), and stride length (β = −0.109; 95% CI = −0.204 to −0.014). Although group analyses indicated that those with a concussion performed worse on single-task and dual-task gait compared with controls, a higher rate of abnormal gait was detected for the concussion group compared with the control group for dual-task gait speed only. Dual-task gait speed, therefore, may be considered as a measure to compare against normative values to detect postconcussion impairments.

scholarly journals Dual-task during gait between elderly with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer: systematic review

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-857
Author(s):  
Vanessa Santa Rosa Bragatto ◽  
Larissa Pires de Andrade ◽  
Paulo Giusti Rossi ◽  
Juliana Hotta Ansai
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Secondary Tasks ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Study Characteristics ◽  
Motor Tests

Abstract Introduction: Studies report that mobility changes could be present in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or even in previous stages, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The use of motor tests, involving dual task, could facilitate screening and differentiation between elderly with AD and MCI. Objective: to verify if gait tests associated with secondary tasks could differentiate elderly with AD and MCI. Methods: We conducted a systematic review in Pubmed, Web of Science, Medline and Scielo databases. Of the articles included, we collected information about year of the study, characteristics of the sample and the dual task test studied. Results: The databases were accessed during November 2014 and August 2015 and a total of 198 scientific papers was obtained. After reading first the summaries and then the full texts, five studies were inserted in the review. Elderly with AD presented a reduction of gait speed and stride length, using executive functions and countdown as secondary cognitive tasks. The type of MCI appears to influence the differentiation with AD. Conclusion: The review showed that some gait tests associated with a secondary task differentiate elderly with AD and MCI. It emphasizes the need of new studies involving this issue in order to obtain cut-off points and facilitate prevention, early diagnosis and observation of cognitive impairment’s evolution in clinical practice of elderly.

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