Gait and Equilibrium in Subcortical Vascular Dementia
Author Information
Author(s): Rita Moretti, Paola Torre, Rodolfo M. Antonello, Francesca Esposito, Giuseppe Bellini
Primary Institution: Università Degli Studi di Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara
Hypothesis
Can gait and balance problems in patients with subcortical vascular dementia be defined and tracked over time?
Conclusion
The study found significant deterioration in gait and equilibrium in patients with subcortical vascular dementia over a three-year follow-up period.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients showed a significant decrease in Tinetti global scores over the follow-up period.
- Correlation was found between gait scores and Clinical Dementia Rating Scales scores.
- Patients with diabetes and cardiac conditions had the worst Tinetti scores.
Takeaway
Older people with a type of dementia called subcortical vascular dementia have trouble walking and keeping their balance, and this gets worse over time.
Methodology
This was a prospective cohort study that followed 646 patients with subcortical vascular dementia over three years, assessing their gait and balance through various tests.
Potential Biases
Potential bias may arise from the exclusion of patients with other neurological conditions that could influence gait.
Limitations
The study excluded patients with certain conditions that could affect gait, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 68-94 years, with a mean age of 73.45 years, and included 320 men and 326 women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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