The relationship between executive function and gait in mildly mentally-impaired persons / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the relationship between executive function and gait in cases of mild amnestic cognitive impairment (aMCI).Methods:Twenty aMCI hospital patients formed an observation group, while 20 healthy counterparts were the control group. Both groups underwent the Tinetti test, followed by the " normal walking" single-task test and the " normal walking + Go/No-go" dual-task test. The pace, step width, stride length, Go/No-go task response time and accuracy rate were recorded.Results:In the single-task test, there was no significant difference in pace or stride width between the two groups, but the average stride length of the observation group (1.11±0.04)cm was significantly shorter than that of the control group. However, in the dual-task test, the average pace time (0.96±0.08)sec and stride length (1.02±0.06)cm of the observation group were significantly smaller than the control group′s averages, while their step width (0.11±0.02)cm was significantly wider. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the response time in a single (Go/No-go) task, but in the dual-task test, the observation group′s average time was significantly longer than the control group′s and the accuracy was significantly poorer. Both the error rate and the non-response rate were significantly higher than among the control group.Conclusions:Mild amnestic cognitive impairment reduces stride length and pace when walking and impairs executive function.