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Published on: February 8, 2019
Cognitive function, gait speed decline, and comorbidities: the health, aging and body composition study
Hal H Atkinson1, Caterina Rosano, Eleanor M Simonsick
1Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. hatkinso@wfubmc.edu
Summary
Cognitive function, including global and executive abilities, predicts gait speed decline in older adults. Comorbidities like depression can weaken this link, suggesting new treatment targets.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Science
Background:
- Growing evidence links cognitive function and physical performance in aging individuals.
- This study investigates the predictive relationship between cognitive function and subsequent gait speed decline in healthy older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how global and executive cognitive functions predict changes in gait speed over time.
- To explore the influence of comorbidities, such as depression, on the cognitive-gait speed relationship.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (1999-2000).
- Assessed global cognitive function (Modified Mini Mental State Examination [3MS]) and executive control function (ECF) using clock drawing (CLOX 1) and Executive Interview (EXIT 15).
- Measured gait speed over 20 meters and analyzed changes over 3 years using mixed-effects models.
Main Results:
- Lower performance on 3MS, CLOX 1, and EXIT 15 was significantly associated with greater gait speed decline over 3 years.
- After adjusting for comorbidities, the association weakened for 3MS and CLOX 1.
- The link between executive function (EXIT 15) and gait speed decline was no longer significant after comorbidity adjustment, with depression being a key factor.
Conclusions:
- Both global and executive cognitive functions are significant predictors of gait speed decline in older adults.
- Comorbid conditions, particularly depression, attenuate the association between executive function and gait speed decline.
- Understanding these mechanisms may reveal novel therapeutic targets for physical decline linked to cognitive impairment.
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