title: Global cognitive function and processing speed are associated with gait and balance dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Our primary objective was to determine the relationship between global cognitive function and specific domains of gait and balance in a cohort of Parkinson's disease (PD) subjects. In a secondary analysis, we determined whether specific cognitive domains correlated with gait and balance performance.
  
  
  
  Fourteen PD subjects (mean age 61.1 ± 7.8 years) were recruited from the Rush University Medical Center Movement Disorders clinic. Subjects underwent clinical assessment using the motor subsection of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) followed by quantitative gait and balance assessments using the APDM Mobility Lab™ system (Mobility Lab, APDM Inc., Portland, OR). Subjects completed global cognitive testing using the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) as well as domain specific cognitive measures. Spearman's rho was used to assess correlations between cognitive measures and gait and balance function, with False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  
  Global cognitive function had the strongest correlation with stride velocity (r = 0.816, p = 0.001), turn duration (r = -0.806, p = 0.001), number of steps to turn (r = -0.830, p = 0.001), and mean velocity of postural sway in the medio-lateral direction (r = -0.726, p = 0.005). A significant correlation was found between processing speed and two turning measures (turn duration, r = -0.884, p = 0.001; number of steps to turn, r = -0.954, p < 0.001), but no other associations were found between specific cognitive domains and gait domains.
  
  
  
  This pilot study provides preliminary data regarding the association between global cognitive function and pace-related measures of gait, turning, and postural sway. Furthermore, reduced processing speed was found to be associated with difficulty in performing turns.
authors: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA. gian_d_pal@rush.edu.|Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 755, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. gian_d_pal@rush.edu.
authors: Gian
authors: G
authors: Pal
authors: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA.|Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: O'Keefe
authors: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Robertson-Dick
authors: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Bryan
authors: B
authors: Bernard
authors: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Sharlet
authors: S
authors: Anderson
authors: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Hall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance
keywords: Cognition; Gait; Parkinson’s disease; Processing speed; Turning