Spatial variability during gait initiation while dual tasking is increased in individuals with mild cognitive...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Gait initiation (GI) is a critical phase of walking, prone to instability.
• Gait disturbances are known in Alzheimer's disease but unclear in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
• Prior research focused on steady-state walking, not the transitional GI phase in cognitive impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate spatiotemporal variability during gait initiation.
• To compare single-task vs. dual-task conditions in individuals with and without MCI.

Main Methods:

• Assessed spatiotemporal stepping characteristics and variability in 30 MCI patients and 30 controls.
• Measured mean and coefficient of variation (COV) for swing time, step time, step length, and step width.
• Employed a dual-task condition involving backward counting by 3s.

Main Results:

• A significant interaction between group and walking condition was found for COV of step length and step width.
• The MCI group showed significantly greater variability in step length and width compared to controls under the dual-task condition.

Conclusions:

• People with MCI demonstrate increased step length and width variability during gait initiation, particularly with a concurrent cognitive task.
• Findings indicate reduced balance control in MCI during demanding walking tasks, exacerbated by cognitive load.
• Further research should explore the link between GI variability and fall risk in the MCI population.