Abstract
Objective: to examine whether usual gait speed, fast gait speed or speed while walking with a cognitive or neuromuscular challenge predicts evolving cognitive decline over 3 years. Design: prospective study. Setting: population-based sample of community-dwelling older persons. Participants: 660 older participants (age ≥ 65 years). Measurements: usual gait speed, fastest gait speed, gait speed during 'walking-while-talking', depression, comorbidities, education, smoking and demographics were assessed at baseline. Cognition was evaluated at baseline and follow-up. A decline in MMSE score by ≥ 3 points was considered as significant cognitive decline (SCD). Results: adjusting for confounders, only fast speed was associated with cognitive performance at 3-year follow-up. One hundred thirty-five participants had SCD over 3 years. Participants in the lowest quartile of usual speed or walking-while-talking speed were more likely to develop SCD. Conversely, participants in the third and fourth quartiles of fast speed were more likely to develop SCD. J-test showed that the model including fast speed quartiles as a regressor was significantly more predictive of SCD than the models with usual speed or walking-while-talking speed quartiles. Conclusion: measuring fast gait speed in older persons may assist in identifying those at high risk of cognitive decline.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 509-514 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Age and Ageing |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Ageing
- Cognition
- Elderly
- Gait speed
- Significant cognitive decline
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aging
- Geriatrics and Gerontology