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Motor dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease

Neelum T Aggarwal1, Robert S Wilson, Todd L Beck

  • 1Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. neelum_t_aggarwal@rsh.net

Archives of Neurology
|December 19, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is linked to poorer motor function. Reduced lower extremity function and parkinsonian gait in MCI increase Alzheimer

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Gerontology
  • Movement Disorders

Background:

  • Limited understanding of motor function deficits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  • The relationship between motor function in MCI and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate motor function in individuals with MCI.
  • To determine the association between motor function in MCI and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal cohort study involving 816 older Catholic clergy members.
  • Baseline assessment included cognitive status (no cognitive impairment, MCI, dementia) and motor function tests (upper/lower extremity, parkinsonian signs).
  • Annual clinical evaluations for dementia and AD over 10 years, controlling for age, sex, education, and APOE ε4 status.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with MCI exhibited impaired motor function compared to cognitively unimpaired individuals.
  • Among those with MCI, poorer lower extremity motor performance, parkinsonian gait, and bradykinesia were associated with a higher risk of AD.
  • Impaired lower limb function or parkinsonian gait increased AD risk 2-3 times.

Conclusions:

  • Individuals with MCI demonstrate motor function impairments.
  • The severity of lower extremity motor function decline in MCI is a significant predictor of Alzheimer's disease risk.

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