Feasibility of Dual-Task Gait Assessment and Association with Cognitive Impairment Subtypes in a Memory Clinic Setting
Abstract
The objectives of this thesis were 1) to assess feasibility and practicality of gait performance to help differentiate cognitive diagnoses, 2) to assess differences in gait speed and dual-task gait cost across the cognitive spectrum, and 3) to determine if poor baseline gait performance is associated with future cognitive decline, all within a clinical setting. Patients at the Aging Brain and Memory Clinic completed gait assessment, consisting of a usual gait trial and three dual-task gait trials, in addition to cognitive and clinical assessments. Patients who had two clinic visits during the study period were also included in a longitudinal analysis. Gait speed decreased across the cognitive spectrum and was associated with a more severe cognitive impairment. Dual-task gait performance on the naming animals condition was also associated with future cognitive decline. This thesis presents an investigation of gait performance in a clinical setting with a large diverse cohort.