Objective and Subjective Measurements of Motor Function: Results from the HELIAD Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Slow gait speed is increasingly recognized as a potential early indicator of cognitive decline and dementia.
• Subjective motor function (SMF) difficulties may precede observable gait impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between objective walking time (OWT) and the presence of SMF with future cognitive decline in cognitively normal older adults.
• To determine if gait parameters can serve as early markers for cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 931 cognitively normal individuals over 64 years old.
• Objective walking time (OWT) was measured using a chronometer, and SMF was assessed via a self-reported questionnaire.
• Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the relationship between baseline OWT, SMF, and cognitive decline over time, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• Each additional second in OWT was associated with a significant increase in annual decline across composite, memory, executive function, and attention-speed cognitive scores.
• The presence of SMF difficulties at baseline was not significantly associated with the rate of cognitive decline in any domain.

Conclusions:

• Objective walking time is a significant predictor of future cognitive decline, supporting its use as a simple clinical tool for identifying individuals at risk of dementia.
• Gait speed assessment offers a practical method for enhancing the detection of prodromal dementia.