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Abstract

Background: Greater gait variability increases the risk of falls. However, little is known about changes in gait variability in older age. The aims of this study were to examine: (1) change in gait variability across time and (2) factors that predict overall mean gait variability and its change over time. Methods: Participants (n = 410; mean age 72 years) were assessed at baseline and during follow up visits at an average of 30 and 54 months. Step time, step length, step width and double support time (DST) were measured using a GAITRite walkway. Variability was calculated as the standard deviation of all steps for each individual. Covariates included demographic, medical, sensorimotor and cognitive factors. Mixed models were used to determine (1) change in gait variability over time (2) factors that predicted or modified any change. Results: Over 4.6 years the presence of cardiovascular disease at baseline increased the rate of change for step length variability (p = 0.04 for interaction), lower education increased the rate of change for DST variability (p = 0.04) and weaker quadriceps strength increased the rate of change for step width variability (p = 0.01). Greater postural sway predicted greater variability on average across the three phases (p p p Conclusion: Over a nearly 5-year period, variability in different gait measures do not show uniform changes over time. Furthermore, each variability measure appears to be modified and predicted by different factors. These results provide information on potential targets for future trials to maintain mobility and independence in older age.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Jayakody, O and Breslin, M and Srikanth, V and Callisaya, M
Keywords:	cognition, gait, gait variability, longitudinal study, older age, sensorimotor
Journal or Publication Title:	Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Publisher:	Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:	1663-4365
DOI / ID Number:	10.3389/fnagi.2018.00419
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2018 Jayakody, Breslin, Srikanth and Callisaya. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Related URLs:	Google Scholar: Callisaya, M UTAS Profile: Callisaya, M
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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