Gait smoothness during high-demand motor walking tasks in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

ABSTRACT: Early signs of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)-related gait deficits may be detected through the performance of complex walking tasks that require high gait control. Gait smoothness is a robust metric of overall body stability during walking. This study aimed to explore gait smoothness during complex walking tasks in older adults with and without MCI. Participants were 18 older adults with MCI (mean age = 67.89 ± 4.64 years) and 18 cognitively intact controls (mean age = 67.72 ± 4.63 years). Gait assessment was conducted under four complex walking tasks: walking a narrow path, walking around an obstacle, horizontal head turns while walking, and vertical head turns while walking. The index of harmonicity (IH), representing gait smoothness associated with overall body stability, was measured

SUBMITTER: Poosri T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10798528 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature