Neurology, Vol 45, Issue 5 908-914, Copyright © 1995 by American Academy of Neurology

ARTICLES

Maintenance of balance, gait patterns, and obstacle clearance in Alzheimer's disease

NB Alexander, JM Mollo, B Giordani, JA Ashton-Miller, AB Schultz, JA Grunawalt and NL Foster
Department of Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, MI 48109- 0405, USA.

Patients with cognitive impairment, particularly as a result of Alzheimer's disease (AD), are at increased risk for falls, but it is unclear how, or if, they differ from normal adults in their balance, gait, or ability to clear an obstacle in their path. Using an optoelectronic camera system, we compared body motions and force output at the feet in patients with probable AD (n = 17) with those in healthy older adults (n = 15) while they stood on a force plate or on a beam attached to the force plate that was either stationary or accelerating. Using the same camera system and comparing this AD group with another group of healthy older adults (n = 24), we observed the AD patients during normal walking and while clearing 25- and 152-mm-high obstacles. None of the AD patients had extrapyramidal signs or musculoskeletal impairments. Compared with healthy older adults, normal walking speed was significantly slower in the AD group (p < 0.0001). While clearing either obstacle, the AD patients were significantly slower in their approach (p < 0.0001) and crossing (p < 0.0001) speeds and landed closer to the obstacle after having crossed it (p < 0.02). Moreover, the percent of trials in which a subject made contact with an obstacle was significantly higher in patients with AD (p < 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Wang, E. B. Larson, J. D. Bowen, and G. van Belle Performance-based physical function and future dementia in older people. Arch Intern Med, May 22, 2006; 166(10): 1115 - 1120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. B. Alexander, J. A. Ashton-Miller, B. Giordani, K. Guire, and A. B. Schultz Age Differences in Timed Accurate Stepping With Increasing Cognitive and Visual Demand: A Walking Trail Making Test J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., December 1, 2005; 60(12): 1558 - 1562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. H. Feldman and M. Woodward The staging and assessment of moderate to severe Alzheimer disease Neurology, September 27, 2005; 65(6_suppl_3): S10 - S17. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S Della Sala, H Spinnler, and A Venneri Walking difficulties in patients with Alzheimer's disease might originate from gait apraxia J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, February 1, 2004; 75(2): 196 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Perry and J. R. Hodges Attention and executive deficits in Alzheimer's disease: A critical review Brain, March 1, 1999; 122(3): 383 - 404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M. Watson, T. J. Wells, and C. Cox Rocking chair therapy for dementia patients: Its effect on psychosocial well-being and balance American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, November 1, 1998; 13(6): 296 - 308. [Abstract] [PDF]