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Cognitive motor interference during dual-task gait in essential tremor.
Ashwini K Rao1, Jasim Uddin, Arthur Gillman
1Program in Physical Therapy and G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. akr7@columbia.edu
Gait & Posture
|February 2, 2013
Summary
Essential tremor (ET) with lower cognitive scores shows significant dual-task interference, impacting gait stability and increasing fall risk. Clinical assessment of gait under dual-task conditions is crucial for this population.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Functional ambulation necessitates integrated motor and cognitive functions.
- Essential tremor (ET) is associated with gait and cognitive impairments.
- Dual-tasking can reveal subtle functional deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent of gait-cognition interference in older adults with ET.
- To compare dual-task gait performance between ET subgroups and controls.
Main Methods:
- 151 ET participants (72-102 years) and 62 controls were tested.
- Participants performed a verbal fluency task while walking at preferred speed.
- Gait parameters including velocity, cadence, stride length, and stability measures were analyzed.
Main Results:
- ET participants with lower cognitive scores (ETp-LCS) exhibited slower velocity, lower cadence, and reduced stride length compared to ET participants with higher cognitive scores (ETp-HCS) and controls.
- ETp-LCS showed significantly higher step time difference, double support time, stride time, and stride time variability.
- The greatest dual-task interference was observed in ETp-LCS for double support time, step time difference, and stride time variability.
Conclusions:
- ETp-LCS experience substantial cognitive-motor interference during dual-task walking.
- These gait impairments under dual-task conditions may elevate fall risk in ET patients with lower cognitive function.
- Clinical evaluation of gait in simple and dual-task settings is recommended for ET individuals.
