The brain map of gait variability in aging, cognitive impairment and dementia-A systematic review.

ABSTRACT: While gait variability may reflect subtle changes due to aging or cognitive impairment (CI), associated brain characteristics remain unclear. We summarize structural and functional neuroimaging findings associated with gait variability in older adults with and without CI and dementia. We identified 17 eligible studies; all were cross-sectional; few examined multiple brain areas. In older adults, temporal gait variability was associated with structural differences in medial areas important for lower limb coordination and balance. Both temporal and spatial gait variability were associated with structural and functional differences in hippocampus and primary sensorimotor cortex and structural differences in anterior cingulate cortex, basal ganglia, association tracts, and posterior thalamic r

SUBMITTER: Tian Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5303129 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature