Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between cognition and various speed-based gait instability in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Background: Automatic movement and coordination are related to cognitive functions such as attention and executive function.

Method: The participants of this study were 48 people with PD aged ≥ 60 years. The cognitive function was evaluated by a clinician using the MoCA. Using shoe-type embedded IMU sensors, the gait instability test was performed on a 20 m overground walkway at three walking speeds. The slower and faster speeds were set at 80% and 120%, respectively, of the preferred walking speed (PWS). An ICC analysis was used to assess the reliability of the estimated and measured speeds.

Results: The participants’ degrees of agreement at slower and faster speeds were 83.1% and 91.4%, respectively. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses using stepwise regression were performed to identify 30 gait variables related to the MoCA score. As the MoCA score (p < 0.037) decreased, the coefficient of variance (CV) of stride length at the PWS increased.

Conclusion: Our result showed that the CV of stride length at the PWS is related to cognitive function, and its explanatory power is 24%. The variability is related to automatic movement, and it can indicate gait instability. Thus, CV of stride length at the PWS associated with the gait instability and can help evaluate the declined cognitive function of people with PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/can-gait-instability-indicate-the-cognitive-function-of-people-with-parkinsons-disease/