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. 2017 Jun;11(3):887-898.
doi: 10.1007/s11682-016-9562-1.

Gray matter volume and dual-task gait performance in mild cognitive impairment

Takehiko Doi  1   2   3   4 , Helena M Blumen  5   6 , Joe Verghese  5   6 , Hiroyuki Shimada  7 , Hyuma Makizako  7 , Kota Tsutsumimoto  7 , Ryo Hotta  7 , Sho Nakakubo  7 , Takao Suzuki  8   9
Affiliations

Gray matter volume and dual-task gait performance in mild cognitive impairment

Takehiko Doi et al. Brain Imaging Behav. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Dual-task gait performance is impaired in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, but the brain substrates associated with dual-task gait performance are not well-established. The relationship between gray matter and gait speed under single-task and dual-task conditions (walking while counting backward) was examined in 560 seniors with mild cognitive impairment (non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment: n = 270; mean age = 72.4 yrs., 63.6 % women; amnestic mild cognitive impairment: n = 290; mean age = 73.4 yrs., 45.4 % women). Multivariate covariance-based analyses of magnetic resonance imaging data, adjusted for potential confounders including single-task gait speed, were performed to identify gray matter patterns associated with dual-task gait speed. There were no differences in gait speed or cognitive performance during dual-task gait between individuals with non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment and amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Overall, increased dual-task gait speed was associated with a gray matter pattern of increased volume in medial frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate, cingulate, precuneus, fusiform gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. The relationship between dual-task gait speed and brain substrates also differed by mild cognitive impairment subtype. Our study revealed a pattern of gray matter regions associated with dual-task performance. Although dual-task gait performance was similar in amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment, the gray matter patterns associated with dual-task gait performance differed by mild cognitive impairment subtype. These findings suggest that the brain substrates supporting dual-task gait performance in amnestic and non-amnestic subtypes are different, and consequently may respond differently to interventions, or require different interventions.

Keywords: Brain atrophy; Dementia; MCI; Mobility.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None of the authors have any financial, personal, or potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Brain regions associated with single-task and dual-task gait in all subjects. Analysis of single-task gait (red) adjusted for covariates of age, sex, education, subtype of MCI, and white matter lesions (model 1) and for dual-task gait speed (blue) adjusted for covariates of age, sex, education, subtype of MCI, white matter lesions, and cognitive performance during gait (model 2). The results are overlaid and regions indicated in purple are associated with both single-task and dual-task gait. Threshold: Z > 2.3 and k ≥ 50
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Brain regions associated with dual-task gait speed after adjustment for single-gait speed in all subjects. Results for dual-task gait speed adjusted for covariates of age, sex, education, subtype of MCI, white matter lesions, cognitive performance during gait, and single-task gait speed (model 3). Threshold: Z > 2.3 and k ≥ 50
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Brain regions associated with dual-task gait speed in aMCI and naMCI subjects. Results for each MCI subtype are shown for dual-task gait speed adjusted for covariates of age, sex, education, subtype of MCI, white matter lesions, cognitive performance during gait, and single-task gait speed (model 3). Threshold: Z > 2.3 and k ≥ 50
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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