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Basal Ganglia and Brainstem Located Cerebral Microbleeds Contributed to Gait Impairment in Patients with Cerebral

He-Jiao Mao1, Jiang-Xia Zhang1, Wen-Cheng Zhu2

  • 1Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|June 25, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in the basal ganglia and brainstem significantly impact gait in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) patients, affecting stride and step length. Brainstem lacunes also correlate with reduced gait speed in these individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Gait Analysis

Background:

  • Gait disorders in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) mechanisms are not fully understood.
  • Limited research compares the impact of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and lacunes in different brain locations on CSVD gait disturbance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between quantitative gait parameters and anatomically located MRI markers in CSVD patients.
  • To explore how CMBs and lacunes in specific brain regions influence gait.

Main Methods:

  • 127 symptomatic CSVD patients with white matter hyperintensities underwent quantitative gait testing.
  • Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and lacunes were assessed for location and burden.
  • General linear models analyzed correlations between CSVD imaging markers and gait parameters.

Main Results:

  • CMBs were linked to reduced stride length and step length.
  • Basal ganglia CMBs correlated with stride and step length.
  • Brainstem CMBs were associated with stride length, step length, step height, and step width.
  • Brainstem lacunes correlated with slower gait speed; other lacunes showed no gait association.

Conclusions:

  • Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) located in the basal ganglia and brainstem significantly contribute to gait impairment in symptomatic CSVD patients.
  • Brainstem lacunes are also associated with gait disturbances, specifically reduced gait speed.
Keywords:
Basal gangliabrainstemcerebral microbleedscerebral small vessel diseasequantitative gait parameters

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