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Dual-task gait from midlife to older age in the population-based Rotterdam Study
A Charlotte Menart1, M Kamran Ikram2, Joost van Rosmalen3
1Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Gait & Posture
|April 1, 2026
Summary
Cognitive challenges during walking significantly impair gait performance across all domains, especially rhythm and velocity, from mid-life onwards. This highlights the neural demands of dual-task walking.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Brain function is crucial for gait control.
- Subtle gait disturbances can indicate neurodegenerative disease risk.
- Isolating neural contributions to gait is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate dual-task gait to assess neural demands.
- Compare dual-task gait performance to single-task gait.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 2222 community-dwelling participants (Rotterdam Study).
- Employed GAITRite® for single-task and dual-task (serial 9s) gait assessments.
- Applied principal component analysis and Deming regression to analyze gait variables and intra-individual changes.
Main Results:
- Nearly all participants (99.9%) showed gait decline during dual-task walking.
- Temporal gait parameters and velocity were most affected.
- Gait decline was observed across ages 45-90, with similar patterns in men and women.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive challenges during walking lead to widespread gait decline from mid-life.
- Temporal gait measures and velocity are particularly sensitive to dual-tasking.
- Findings underscore the neural resources required for dual-task gait across the lifespan.
