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Measuring gait speed to better identify prodromal dementia
Grande G, Triolo F, Nuara A, Welmer AK, Fratiglioni L, Vetrano DL.. Experimental gerontology, 2019-06-04
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Slow gait speed has been shown to predict incident dementia and cognitive decline in older individuals. We aimed to summarize the evidence concerning the association of slow gait speed with cognitive decline and dementia, and discuss the possible shared pathways leading to cognitive and motor impairments, under the unifying hypothesis that body and mind are intimately connected. This is a scoping review supported by a systematic search of the literature, performed on PubMed and Web of Science. Longitudinal studies providing information on the role of gait speed in the prediction of cognitive decline and dementia in cognitively intact people and in those with initial cognitive impairment were eligible. Of 39 studies selected, including overall 57,456 participants, 33 reported a significant association between gait speed and cognitive outcomes, including dementia. Neurodegenerative pathology and cerebrovascular burden may damage cerebral areas involved in both cognitive functions and motor control. At the same time, systemic conditions, characterized by higher cardiorespiratory, and metabolic and inflammatory burden, can affect a number of organs and systems involved in motor functions, including the brain, having ultimately an impact on cognition. The interplay of body and mind seems relevant during the development of cognitive decline and dementia. The measurement of gait speed may improve the detection of prodromal dementia and cognitive impairment in individuals with and without initial cognitive deficits. The potential applicability of such a measure in both clinical and research settings points at the importance of expanding our knowledge about the common underlying mechanisms of cognitive and motor decline.
Key findings
- Of 39 studies selected, including overall 57,456 participants, 33 reported a significant association between gait speed and cognitive outcomes, including dementia.
Why it matters
In this scoping review of 39 longitudinal studies (57,456 participants in total), 33 reported a significant link between slower walking speed and later cognitive decline or dementia. The authors suggest that brain changes and wider health burdens (heart, lung, metabolic and inflammatory) may affect both movement and thinking, and that measuring gait speed "may improve the detection of prodromal dementia". This is an association, not a cause, and the review does not give a combined effect size or a validated cut-off for screening.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants57,456
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Experimental gerontology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Experimental Gerontology: journal h-index 195 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 57,456 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 185 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.6 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 70 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Davide Liborio Vetrano: h-index 59 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Karolinska Institutet: institution h-index 1,477 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 9 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31173841) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.05.014
- PubMed: 31173841
- Original source →
- Free full text: Experimental Gerontology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Grande, G., Triolo, F., Nuara, A., Welmer, A. K., Fratiglioni, L., & Vetrano, D. L. (2019). Measuring gait speed to better identify prodromal dementia. Experimental gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.05.014
Vancouver
Grande G, Triolo F, Nuara A, Welmer AK, Fratiglioni L, Vetrano DL. Measuring gait speed to better identify prodromal dementia. Experimental gerontology. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2019.05.014. PMID: 31173841.
BibTeX
@article{grande2019-31173841,
author = {Grande, G. and Triolo, F. and Nuara, A. and Welmer, A. K. and Fratiglioni, L. and Vetrano, D. L.},
title = {{Measuring gait speed to better identify prodromal dementia}},
journal = {Experimental gerontology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1016/j.exger.2019.05.014},
pmid = {31173841},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.05.014}
}
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