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Slower gait, slower information processing and smaller prefrontal area in older adults
Rosano C, Rosano C, Studenski SA, Aizenstein HJ, Boudreau RM, Longstreth WT, Newman AB.. Age and ageing, 2011-09-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Slower gait in older adults is related to smaller volume of the prefrontal area (PFAv). The pathways underlying this association have not yet been explored. Understanding slowing gait could help improve function in older age. We examine whether the association between smaller PFAv and slower gait is explained by lower performance on numerous neuropsychological tests. Hypothesis We hypothesise that slower information processing explains this association, while tests of language or memory will not. Methods Data on brain imaging, neuropsychological tests (information processing speed, visuospatial attention, memory, language, mood) and time to walk 15 feet were obtained in 214 adults (73.3 years, 62% women) free from stroke and dementia. Covariates included central (white matter hyperintensities, vision) and peripheral contributors of gait (vibration sense, muscle strength, arthritis, body mass index), demographics (age, race, gender, education), as well as markers of prevalent vascular diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes and ankle arm index). Results In linear regression models, smaller PFAv was associated with slower time to walk independent of covariates. This association was no longer significant after adding information processing speed to the model. None of the other neuropsychological tests significantly attenuated this association. Conclusions We conclude that smaller PFAv may contribute to slower gait through slower information processing. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to examine the casual relationship between focal brain atrophy with slowing in information processing and gait.
Key findings
- Results In linear regression models, smaller PFAv was associated with slower time to walk independent of covariates.
- This association was no longer significant after adding information processing speed to the model.
- None of the other neuropsychological tests significantly attenuated this association.
- Conclusions We conclude that smaller PFAv may contribute to slower gait through slower information processing.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants214
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 60/100
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. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 35 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 60 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Age and ageing) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| 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 | 1 / 5 | 2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 214 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 | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21965414) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 35 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 35 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 60 out of 100. |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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APA 7th
Rosano, C., Studenski, S. A., Aizenstein, H. J., Boudreau, R. M., Longstreth, W. T., & Newman, A. B. (2012). Slower gait, slower information processing and smaller prefrontal area in older adults. Age and ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afr113
Vancouver
Rosano C, Studenski SA, Aizenstein HJ, Boudreau RM, Longstreth WT, Newman AB. Slower gait, slower information processing and smaller prefrontal area in older adults. Age and ageing. 2012. doi:10.1093/ageing/afr113. PMID: 21965414.
BibTeX
@article{rosano2012-21965414,
author = {Rosano, C. and Studenski, S. A. and Aizenstein, H. J. and Boudreau, R. M. and Longstreth, W. T. and Newman, A. B.},
title = {{Slower gait, slower information processing and smaller prefrontal area in older adults}},
journal = {Age and ageing},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1093/ageing/afr113},
pmid = {21965414},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afr113}
}
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