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Published on: June 3, 2019
Slowing: A Vascular Geriatric Syndrome?
Sara A J van de Schraaf1, Hanneke F M Rhodius-Meester2, Laurien Aben3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Section, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Slowing in walking, thinking, and mood are interconnected in older adults and linked to cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). This geriatric syndrome may help identify patients with CSVD.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is common in older adults.
- Slowing in gait, cognition, and mood are prevalent geriatric symptoms.
- The relationship between these slowing aspects and CSVD requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interrelation between slowing in walking, thinking, and mood.
- To examine the relationship between these slowing aspects and CSVD in geriatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 566 geriatric outpatients.
- Comprehensive geriatric, neuropsychological, and brain imaging assessments.
- Visual rating of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, and microbleeds for CSVD.
Main Results:
- Gait speed slowing correlated with processing speed and apathy.
- Severe WMHs (Fazekas 3) were associated with all slowing aspects.
- Microbleeds were linked to apathy, while lacunes showed no association with slowing.
Conclusions:
- Slowing in gait, cognition, and mood are interrelated in older adults.
- These interconnected slowing symptoms are associated with CSVD.
- This geriatric syndrome phenotype may aid in identifying and characterizing CSVD patients.
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