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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Motor Dual-Tasks for Gait Analysis and Evaluation in Post-Stroke Patients
Published on: March 11, 2021
Gait measures as predictors of poststroke cognitive function: evidence from the TABASCO study
Einor Ben Assayag1, Shani Shenhar-Tsarfaty1, Amos D Korczyn1
1From the Stroke Unit and the Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition and Mobility, Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel (E.B.A., S.-S.T., E.K., H.H., L.S., E.A., N.G., A. Mike, A.H., A.W., A. Mirelman, N.M.B.); and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (E.B.A., A.D.K., E.K., H.H., E.A., N.G., N.M.B., J.M.H.).
Balance and gait assessments after stroke can predict long-term cognitive decline. Simple mobility tests, like the Timed Up and Go test, identify stroke survivors at higher risk for cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Stroke survivors face a significant risk of developing cognitive impairment.
- Early identification of at-risk individuals is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if balance and gait assessments can improve the prediction of long-term cognitive outcomes in stroke survivors.
- To investigate the utility of mobility tests in identifying individuals prone to post-stroke cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of patients with mild-moderate ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TABASCO study).
- Follow-up for ≥2 years with neurological, neuropsychological, and mobility examinations at 6, 12, and 24 months.
- Utilized 3-T MRI for imaging and assessed mobility using Timed Up and Go, Berg Balance Scale, and dual-task walking.
Main Results:
- 46 participants (15.4%) developed cognitive decline (CD) over 2 years.
- Patients who later developed CD had longer Timed Up and Go times, lower Berg Balance Scale scores, and slower gait at 6 months post-stroke.
- Timed Up and Go times >12 seconds at 6 months independently predicted CD at 24 months (OR=6.07).
Conclusions:
- Balance and gait measures are significant risk markers for cognitive status 2 years after stroke.
- Performance-based mobility tests can enhance the identification of stroke survivors at increased risk for cognitive decline.
- These findings support the integration of mobility assessments into routine post-stroke care for cognitive risk stratification.
