A Longitudinal Study of Gait and Balance Dysfunction in Normal Older People

Abstract

This longitudinal study showed age-related decreases in vestibular, visual, auditory, and somatosensation in normal older people, but these changes were only weakly correlated with changes in gait and balance. White matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging were more highly correlated with changes in gait and balance, but all variables together accounted for only about 29% of the measured change in gait and balance.

Gray Matter Regions Associated With Functional Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults

“…Neuroimaging measures of a healthier brain, defined as higher whole brain GMV, were related to better functional mobility, represented by faster gait speed and FSST performance, as well as higher DGI scores. These findings are consistent with the predominant findings in literature . A novel finding of this research was the observation of significant associations between GMV, varying gait tasks (DGI), and multidirectional stepping (FSST).…”

Gray Matter Regions Associated With Functional Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults

“…Neuroimaging measures of a healthier brain, defined as higher whole brain GMV, were related to better functional mobility, represented by faster gait speed and FSST performance, as well as higher DGI scores. These findings are consistent with the predominant findings in literature . A novel finding of this research was the observation of significant associations between GMV, varying gait tasks (DGI), and multidirectional stepping (FSST).…”

Contributions of Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities to Postural Instability in Aging With and Without Alcohol Use Disorder

“…Attenuation of the sway path/WMH volume correlations with age indicated that the relation between increasing instability with enlarging of WMH volumes occurred principally because they advanced together with age and thereby provided weak support for speculations regarding WMH presence, size, or location as potential causal factors in postural instability in either the control or AUD groups. This conclusion is consistent with that of a longitudinal study of 59 normal older people examined annually for 8 to 10 years ( 19 ). Specifically, observations of age-related decreases in vestibular, visual, auditory, and somatosensation and worse WMH ratings correlated with slowed gait and advancing postural instability, but all variables combined accounted for less than 30% of the gait and balance declines.…”

Surgical reconstruction of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: Prospective comparison of flexor digitorum longus substitution combined with lateral column lengthening or medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy

“…The significant difference in age ($10 years) between the MDCO and LCL groups also makes strict comparison of the results somewhat unclear. A number of previous reports have demonstrated differences in motion patterns between young and elderly populations [34][35][36]; however, the age difference between these groups was much larger than that present in this study. Conversely, evidence detailing the stability of some gait parameters between ages 20 and 65 years has also been presented [37].…”

Gray Matter Regions Associated With Functional Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults

“…Neuroimaging measures of a healthier brain, defined as higher whole brain GMV, were related to better functional mobility, represented by faster gait speed and FSST performance, as well as higher DGI scores. These findings are consistent with the predominant findings in literature . A novel finding of this research was the observation of significant associations between GMV, varying gait tasks (DGI), and multidirectional stepping (FSST).…”

Contributions of Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities to Postural Instability in Aging With and Without Alcohol Use Disorder

“…Attenuation of the sway path/WMH volume correlations with age indicated that the relation between increasing instability with enlarging of WMH volumes occurred principally because they advanced together with age and thereby provided weak support for speculations regarding WMH presence, size, or location as potential causal factors in postural instability in either the control or AUD groups. This conclusion is consistent with that of a longitudinal study of 59 normal older people examined annually for 8 to 10 years ( 19 ). Specifically, observations of age-related decreases in vestibular, visual, auditory, and somatosensation and worse WMH ratings correlated with slowed gait and advancing postural instability, but all variables combined accounted for less than 30% of the gait and balance declines.…”

Surgical reconstruction of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: Prospective comparison of flexor digitorum longus substitution combined with lateral column lengthening or medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy

“…The significant difference in age ($10 years) between the MDCO and LCL groups also makes strict comparison of the results somewhat unclear. A number of previous reports have demonstrated differences in motion patterns between young and elderly populations [34][35][36]; however, the age difference between these groups was much larger than that present in this study. Conversely, evidence detailing the stability of some gait parameters between ages 20 and 65 years has also been presented [37].…”

Gray Matter Regions Associated With Functional Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults

“…Neuroimaging measures of a healthier brain, defined as higher whole brain GMV, were related to better functional mobility, represented by faster gait speed and FSST performance, as well as higher DGI scores. These findings are consistent with the predominant findings in literature . A novel finding of this research was the observation of significant associations between GMV, varying gait tasks (DGI), and multidirectional stepping (FSST).…”

Contributions of Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities to Postural Instability in Aging With and Without Alcohol Use Disorder

“…Attenuation of the sway path/WMH volume correlations with age indicated that the relation between increasing instability with enlarging of WMH volumes occurred principally because they advanced together with age and thereby provided weak support for speculations regarding WMH presence, size, or location as potential causal factors in postural instability in either the control or AUD groups. This conclusion is consistent with that of a longitudinal study of 59 normal older people examined annually for 8 to 10 years ( 19 ). Specifically, observations of age-related decreases in vestibular, visual, auditory, and somatosensation and worse WMH ratings correlated with slowed gait and advancing postural instability, but all variables combined accounted for less than 30% of the gait and balance declines.…”

Surgical reconstruction of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: Prospective comparison of flexor digitorum longus substitution combined with lateral column lengthening or medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy

“…The significant difference in age ($10 years) between the MDCO and LCL groups also makes strict comparison of the results somewhat unclear. A number of previous reports have demonstrated differences in motion patterns between young and elderly populations [34][35][36]; however, the age difference between these groups was much larger than that present in this study. Conversely, evidence detailing the stability of some gait parameters between ages 20 and 65 years has also been presented [37].…”