03292nas a2200385   4500008004100000022001400041245016100055210006900216260000900285300001000294490000700304520216600311653000902477653001002486653002402496653002402520653003002544653001902574653001302593653001102606653000902617653003102626653001102657653001702668653003102685653000902716653002902725653001102754653001802765100002102783700002002804700002702824700002002851856003502871       2006                        eng d  a0251-535000aQuantitative measures of gait characteristics indicate prevalence of underlying subclinical structural brain abnormalities in high-functioning older adults.0 aQuantitative measures of gait characteristics indicate prevalenc  c2006  a52-600 v263 a<p>Abnormal gait in high-functioning older adults may indicate underlying subtle structural brain abnormalities. We tested the hypothesis that temporal and spatial parameters of gait, including speed, stride length and double support time, are cross-sectionally associated with white matter hyperintensity, subcortical infarcts or brain atrophy on brain MRI. We examined 321 men and women (mean age = 78.3) participating to the Cardiovascular Health Study who were free of dementia or stroke at the time of the gait assessment. Analyses were set with gait as independent variable and brain MRIs as dependent variables. Gait measures were determined from the footfalls recorded on a 4-meter-long instrumented walking surface, the GaitMat II. Brain MRIs were examined for the presence of white matter hyperintensity (WMG, graded from 0 to 9), brain infarcts (predominantly subcortical) and ventricular enlargement (graded from 0 to 9). Slower gait, shorter stride length and longer double support times were associated with greater prevalence of white matter grade > or =3 (p = 0.02), and at least 1 brain infarct (p = 0.04) independent of age. In multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for demographics and clinical cardiovascular diseases, those with gait speed <1.02 m/s were more likely to have WMG > or =3 and at least 1 brain infarct, compared with those with faster gait - odds ratio (OR): 2.85, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.35, 6.02, and OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.19. Shorter stride length was also associated with greater probability of having at least 1 brain infarct (gait stride <0.88 vs. >1.10 m: OR: 3.20, 95% CI: 1.49, 6.88), while longer double support times were associated with a greater probability of having WMG > or =3 (double support time >0.19 vs. <0.14 s: OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 4.7) independent of demographics and clinical cardiovascular diseases. Gait parameters were not significantly associated with ventricular grade. In summary, in this group of high-functioning older adults, poorer gait speed, shorter stride and longer double support time are associated with high white matter disease and subclinical strokes.</p>10aAged10aBrain10aCerebral Infarction10aCerebral Ventricles10aCerebrovascular Disorders10aCohort Studies10aDementia10aFemale10aGait10aGait Disorders, Neurologic10aHumans10aHypertension10aMagnetic Resonance Imaging10aMale10aNeuropsychological Tests10aStroke10aUnited States1 aRosano, Caterina1 aBrach, Jennifer1 aLongstreth, William, T1 aNewman, Anne, B  uhttps://chs-nhlbi.org/node/866