Aims: 

To assess the correlation between cognitive functioning and 3 gait parameters (gait speed, cadence, and stride length) in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively healthy controls and investigate linear correlations between gait and gray matter volumes.

Materials and Methods: 

Participants were recruited at IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy (MCI=43; age-matched controls=43). Participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Gait speed, cadence, and stride length, were assessed with the BTS FREEMG 300 device. Three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted MR images were acquired using a 1.5 T Philips Achieva MRI system with a Turbo Field Echo sequence.

Results: 

In MCI there was a positive correlation between gait speed and memory tests (P<0.05). In controls all 3 gait parameters correlated with executive functioning (P<0.01). Temporal and limbic areas (ie, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus and parahippocampal gyrus) were associated with gait parameters in MCI whereas in controls the associations were with frontal areas (ie, middle, inferior, and superior frontal gyrus) and in the cerebellum (anterior and posterior lobe).

Conclusions: 

Our results highlight a distinct pattern of association between gray matter volume and gait parameters in MCI patients and controls (temporal areas in MCI and frontal areas in healthy elderly), suggesting a relationship between dementia-related pathology and gait dysfunction.

中文翻译：

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轻度认知障碍和健康控制中步态，认知和灰色物质之间的关联。

目的： 

评估轻度认知障碍（MCI）和认知健康对照者的认知功能与3个步态参数（步态速度，节奏和步幅）之间的相关性，并研究步态与灰质量之间的线性相关性。

材料和方法： 

参与者是在意大利威尼斯的IRCCS San Camillo医院招募的（MCI = 43；年龄匹配的对照组= 43）。参加者接受了全面的神经心理学评估。使用BTS FREEMG 300设备评估步态速度，节奏和步幅。使用具有Turbo Field回波序列的1.5 T Philips Achieva MRI系统获取三维（3D）T1加权MR图像。

结果： 

在MCI中，步态速度和记忆力测试之间呈正相关（P <0.05）。在控件中，所有三个步态参数都与执行功能相关（P <0.01）。时间和边缘区域（即，颞上回，丘脑和海马旁回）与在步态参数相关联的MCI，而在对照中的关联是与前额区域（即，中间，下侧和额上回）和小脑（前和后叶）。

结论： 

我们的研究结果突出显示了MCI患者和对照（MCI的颞区域和健康的老年人的额叶区域）中灰质体积和步态参数之间存在明显的关联模式，表明痴呆相关的病理与步态功能障碍之间存在关联。