title: Brain volume changes in gait control in patients with mild cognitive impairment compared to cognitively healthy individuals; GAIT study results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differences in brain structures involved in gait control between normal and pathological aging are still matter of debate. This study aims to compare the regional and global brain volume patterns associated with gait performances assessed with Timed Up and Go test (TUG) between cognitively healthy individuals (CHI) and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 171 (80 CHI, 25 with amnestic MCI [a-MCI] and 66 with non-amnestic MCI [na-MCI]) participants (70.2±4.0years; 37% female) consecutively realized (rTUG) and imagined (iTUG) the TUG. rTUG measures the time needed to rise from a chair, walk 3m, turn around and return to a seated position and iTUG represents the validated imagined version of the TUG. Global and regional brain volumes were quantified from three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI using a semi-automated software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear regression models show that increased rTUG (i.e. worse performance) was associated with lower total white matter, total gray matter, left and right hippocampal volume in patients with na-MCI (P<0.045), and with lower right hippocampal volume in CHI (P=0.013). Increased iTUG was associated with lower gray matter and left premotor cortex volumes in patients with na-MCI (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings showed different patterns of brain volume reduction associated with increased rTUG and iTUG between CHI and MCI patients, except for the right hippocampal volume which was smaller in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive & Motor Aging, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: gilles.allali@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allali
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Division of Geriatric Medicine, UPRES EA 4638, UNAM, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France; Robarts Research Institute, Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Annweiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Research centre, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Predovan
authors.affiliation: Research centre, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bherer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital and Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre of Excellence on Aging and Chronic Diseases of McGill Integrated University Health Network, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beauchet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001331:Automation; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012984:Software
keywords: Aging; Gait control; Mild cognitive impairment; Motor imagery; Neuroimaging; Timed up and go