Can Turn Duration and Step Parameters During the Timed Up and Go Test With and Without a Dual-Task Discriminate...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cognitive impairment, including dementia and mild cognitive impairment, affects millions globally.
• Early detection of cognitive decline is crucial for timely intervention and management.
• The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a widely used functional mobility assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if TUG test parameters, specifically turn duration and gait parameters during dual-tasking, can distinguish between individuals with varying cognitive abilities.
• To explore the utility of TUG and TUG with cognitive dual-tasking (TUGdt) in identifying cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

• Participants (N=334) were categorized into dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive impairment, and control groups.
• Subjects performed the TUG test and TUGdt (animal naming, reverse month recitation).
• Turn duration and step parameters (forward/return walk) were analyzed using logistic regression and standardized odds ratios.

Main Results:

• Longer turn duration during TUGdt was observed in groups with lower cognitive function.
• A minor trend indicated differences in step length relative to body height across cognitive groups.
• Logistic regression models identified significant associations between TUGdt turn duration and cognitive status.

Conclusions:

• Turn duration during the TUGdt, particularly in the turning phase, shows potential as a sensitive marker for cognitive impairment.
• Assessing specific TUG segments under dual-task conditions may offer a non-invasive method for risk stratification of cognitive decline.
• Further validation studies are warranted to confirm the clinical utility of TUG-based gait analysis for cognitive assessment.