title: Gait speed in older people: an easy test for detecting cognitive impairment, functional independence, and health state.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With ageing, physical and cognitive functions become impaired. Analyzing and determining the association between both functions can facilitate the prevention and diagnosis of associated problems. Some previous works have proposed batteries of physical performance tests to determine both physical and cognitive functions. However, only a few studies have used the gait speed (GS) test as a tool to evaluate parameters representative of health in the elderly such as functionality, mobility, independence, autonomy, and comorbidity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between physical and cognitive functions in older people (over 65 years old) and to detect the most appropriate physical test to assess cognitive impairment, functional independence, comorbidity, and perceived health in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred six older adults (38 men, 68 women) participated voluntarily in this cross-sectional study. To assess the physical function handgrip strength, GS, 30-s chair stand tests, and body composition analysis were performed. To evaluate cognitive function, the Mini-Mental State Examination, Barthel index, and Charlson index were employed. No significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) between sexes were found.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analysis of the Mini-Mental State Examination and physical fitness variables, adjusted for age and sex, indicates that GS is a predictor of Mini-Mental State Examination score (R(2) = 0.138).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that GS is an important predictor of functional capacity (physical and cognitive function) in adults over 65 years old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, Jaen.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia-Pinillos
authors.affiliation: Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, Jaen.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cozar-Barba
authors.affiliation: Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, Jaen.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munoz-Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Sport Education, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soto-Hermoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, Jaen.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Latorre-Roman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016138:Walking; D000072797:Walking Speed
keywords: ageing; elderly people; fitness level; functional capacity; walking speed