Gait analysis in cognitive impairment and depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A case-control study which will combine gait analysis with clinical, neuropsychological and CT(Computed tomography) brain imaging data from routine clinical assessment to investigate the characteristic pattern of gait in different types of cognitive impairment and depression
IRAS ID
160591
Contact name
Vyara Valkanova
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 4 days
Research summary
Dementia, depression and gait disorders in people over the age of 65 represent major public health issues because of their high prevalence, their relation to adverse outcomes and high costs. Research has shown that cognition (particularly attention and executive functions) and gait are closely related. Subtle disturbances in gait can be observed in the early stages of dementia, and even in subtypes that are not known for prominent motor disturbances, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Evidence is increasing that specific types of dementia may have characteristic gait abnormalities, which are unlikely to be detected by clinical observation early in the disease course. Further, depression is known to be associated with psychomotor retardation and executive dysfunction which also have an impact on gait parameters. We propose to use an IMU (inertial measurement unit) to perform in-depth quantitative gait analysis in MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment), different dementia subtypes (AD-Alzheimer’s disease, VD-Vascular dementia, DLB-Dementia with Lewi bodies) and in depression. This diagnostic technology is non-invasive, inexpensive, reliable and sensitive; it provides objective measurement and may be useful to establish the characteristic pattern of gait impairment in different disorders.
We aim to understand whether information on gait changes can be used to improve early differential diagnosis of dementia subtypes and the detection of depression. In current practice increased diagnostic certainty will have some implications for treatment (e.g. cholinesterase inhibitors are recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) for treatment of AD, but not for VD). Early differential diagnosis of dementia is becoming increasingly important, as new pharmacologic therapies are developed, because they will target different dementia subtypes and their effect is likely to be greatest early in the disease course. Gait analysis can also be used to monitor the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors and other treatments (both side effects and positive effects), as well as to predict adverse outcomes such as falls, future functional and cognitive decline, hospitalization, and death. In addition, the data available from the routine clinical assessment will enable us to identify important determinants of gait impairment in the elderly.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/1196
Date of REC Opinion
24 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion