Gait stability and variability measures show effects of impaired cognition and dual tasking in frail people

Table 1 Population characteristics, cognitive and activity of daily living test scores

	whole group	cognitive intact	cognitive impaired	group differences*
	N = 26	N = 13	N = 13	z-value	p-value
Men/women (n)	10/16	6/7	4/9
Age (y)	81.00 ± 5.13	79.38 ± 5.55	82.62 ± 4.29	1.31	0.19
Length (cm)	165.17 ± 9.10	166.00 ± 8.05	164.35 ± 11.75	0.59	0.55
Weight (kg)	67.52 ± 12.90	72.59 ± 11.97	62.45 ± 12.16	2.18	0.03
MMSE	23.12 ± 5.81	28.23 ± 1.09	18.00 ± 3.54	4.36	< 0.001
SMS	61.74 ± 109.73	-2.13 ± 15.91	125.62 ±125.81	3.82	< 0.001
BTO	17.65 ± 31.04	1.00 ± 3.61	34.31 ± 37.32	3.45	0.001
ECR	9.73 ± 9.73	12.62 ± 3.15	6.85 ± 4.41	3.11	0.002
CD	9.00 ± 3.43	10.00 ± 2.35	8.01 ± 4.10	1.17	0.243
VF	10.19 ± 3.95	12.54 ± 3.02	7.85 ± 3.39	3.40	< 0.001
IADL	4.69 ± 5.04	7.54 ± 5.29	1.85 ± 2.73	2.89	0.003
CCI	2.00 ± 1.26	2.15 ± 1.34	1.85 ± 1.23	0.62	0.58

Values are mean ± standard deviations. Statistical differences between the cognitive intact and cognitive impaired participants are indicated by z- and p-values (based on Mann-Whitney test). Abbreviations: MMSE = Minimal Mental Scale examination; Range: 0-30, scores < 23 indicating cognitive impairment. SMS = Seven Minute Screening test, higher values indicate cognitive impairment, low or negative values the absence of cognitive impairment. BTO = The Benton Temporal Orientation; Range: 0 = intact orientation 113 = severe disorientation; ECR = Enhanced Cued Recall, Range: 0-16; CD = Clock drawing, maximum score = 14; VF = Verbal Fluency task, range: 0-45.; IADL = Instrumental Activities of Daily living, maximal dependency = score of 14; CCI = Charlson Comorbidity Index.

ISSN: 1743-0003