Impact of small vessel disease in the brain on gait and balance

• DOI: 10.1038/srep41637
• Publication Date: 2017-01-30T11:49:09Z
• Authors: Daniela Pinter; Stuart J. Ritchie; Fergus Doubal; Thomas Gattringer; Zoe Morris; Mark E. Bastin; Maria del C. Vald...; Natalie A. Royle; Janie Corley; Susana Muñoz Maniega; Alison Pattie; David A. Dickie; Julie Staals; Alan J. Gow; John M. Starr; Ian J. Deary; Christian Enzinger; Franz Fazekas; Joanna Wardlaw
• Keywords: Male; LACUNAR STROKE; DISORDERS; DIFFUSION TENSOR; Brain; BLOOD-PRESSURE; BIRTH COHORT 1936; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Article; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases; WHITE-MATTER HYPERINTENSITIES; COGNITION; Humans; Female; OLDER-PEOPLE; FOLLOW-UP; Gait; Postural Balance; MRI; Aged

Abstract Gait and balance impairment is highly prevalent in older people. We aimed to assess whether how single markers of small vessel disease (SVD) or a combination thereof explain gait function the elderly. analysed 678 community-dwelling healthy subjects from Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 at age 71–74 years who had undergone comprehensive risk factor assessment, assessment as well brain MRI. investigated impact individual SVD (white matter hyperintensity – WMH, microbleeds, lacunes, enlarged perivascular spaces, atrophy) seen on structural MRI global score patients’ performance. A regression model revealed that age, sex, hypertension significantly explained speed. Among white (WMH) volume were additional significant independent predictors speed model. similar association was with score. Our study confirms negative SVD-related morphologic changes addition sex atrophy. The presence WMH seems be major driving force for elderly subjects.