Timing variability during gait initiation is increased in people with Alzheimer's disease compared to controls

Variability of constant speed walking is closely related to falls risk in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who fall at 3 times the rate of normal elders. Falls are likely to be provoked during gait initiation, so this study aimed to determine if people with mild-moderate AD have greater variability of gait at initiation.

Measures of step and stride length and time, step width and double support time were recorded during gait initiation for 10 males and 10 females with AD and 20 age- and gender-matched controls. Variability was calculated using the coefficient of variation (CV). Effect size was calculated using Cohen's d.

During gait initiation AD participants had greater variability than controls in stride timing (AD CV = 4.65, Control CV = 3.64; p < 0.05, d = 0.71) and double support proportion (AD CV = 9.40, Control CV = 7.62; p < 0.05, d = 0.8).

Increased timing variability in people with AD occurs during gait initiation as well as during constant speed walking and is evident in the early disease stages.