Nikki L DiSalvio1, Caterina Rosano2, Howard J Aizenstein3, Mark S Redfern4, Joseph M Furman5, J Richard Jennings3, Susan L Whitney1, Patrick J Sparto1. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2. Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4. Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 5. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Neuroimaging indicators of reduced brain health in the form of lower gray matter volume (GMV), lower fractional anisotropy (FA), and higher white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) have been related to global mobility measures, such as gait speed, in older adults. The purpose was to identify associations between brain regions and specific mobility functions to provide a greater understanding of the contribution of the central nervous system to independent living. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy community-ambulating healthy older adults (mean age = 76 ± 5 years). MEASUREMENTS: Participants performed the following tests: gait speed, Five Times Sit to Stand, Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Structural magnetic resonance imaging of each participant's brain was collected. Measures of regional GMV, tract-specific WMHV, and FA were extracted. Correlational analyses between the mobility measures and neuroimaging measures were conducted using whole brain and regional and tract-specific measures. This was followed by linear regression models relating the mobility measures to regions or tracts identified in the correlation analysis, and adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. RESULTS: Significant associations were found between higher GMV in multiple regions, primarily the parietal and temporal lobes, and better performance in gait speed, DGI, and FSST. After adjusting for personal factors, greater parahippocampus GMV was independently associated with greater gait speed. Greater inferior parietal lobe, supramarginal gyrus, and superior temporal gyrus GMVs were associated with gait function. Greater postcentral gyrus, parahippocampus, and superior temporal gyrus GMVs were associated with faster FSST performance. The WMHV and FA were not significantly correlated with the mobility measures. CONCLUSIONS: Gray matter regions associated with higher performance in mobility measures serving gait function and multidirectional stepping were those structures related to vestibular sensation, spatial navigation, and somatosensation. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1023-1028, 2020.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Neuroimaging indicators of reduced brain health in the form of lower gray matter volume (GMV), lower fractional anisotropy (FA), and higher white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) have been related to global mobility measures, such as gait speed, in older adults. The purpose was to identify associations between brain regions and specific mobility functions to provide a greater understanding of the contribution of the central nervous system to independent living. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy community-ambulating healthy older adults (mean age = 76 ± 5 years). MEASUREMENTS: Participants performed the following tests: gait speed, Five Times Sit to Stand, Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Structural magnetic resonance imaging of each participant's brain was collected. Measures of regional GMV, tract-specific WMHV, and FA were extracted. Correlational analyses between the mobility measures and neuroimaging measures were conducted using whole brain and regional and tract-specific measures. This was followed by linear regression models relating the mobility measures to regions or tracts identified in the correlation analysis, and adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. RESULTS: Significant associations were found between higher GMV in multiple regions, primarily the parietal and temporal lobes, and better performance in gait speed, DGI, and FSST. After adjusting for personal factors, greater parahippocampus GMV was independently associated with greater gait speed. Greater inferior parietal lobe, supramarginal gyrus, and superior temporal gyrus GMVs were associated with gait function. Greater postcentral gyrus, parahippocampus, and superior temporal gyrus GMVs were associated with faster FSST performance. The WMHV and FA were not significantly correlated with the mobility measures. CONCLUSIONS: Gray matter regions associated with higher performance in mobility measures serving gait function and multidirectional stepping were those structures related to vestibular sensation, spatial navigation, and somatosensation. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1023-1028, 2020.
Authors: Setsu Wakana; Hangyi Jiang; Lidia M Nagae-Poetscher; Peter C M van Zijl; Susumu Mori Journal: Radiology Date: 2003-11-26 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: Marian van der Meulen; Gilles Allali; Sebastian W Rieger; Frédéric Assal; Patrik Vuilleumier Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2012-09-27 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Christian la Fougère; Andreas Zwergal; Axel Rominger; Stefan Förster; Gunther Fesl; Marianne Dieterich; Thomas Brandt; Michael Strupp; Peter Bartenstein; Klaus Jahn Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2009-12-23 Impact factor: 6.556
Authors: Patrick J Sparto; Susan I Fuhrman; Mark S Redfern; J Richard Jennings; Subashan Perera; Robert D Nebes; Joseph M Furman Journal: J Neurophysiol Date: 2012-10-31 Impact factor: 2.714
Authors: Stephanie Studenski; Subashan Perera; Kushang Patel; Caterina Rosano; Kimberly Faulkner; Marco Inzitari; Jennifer Brach; Julie Chandler; Peggy Cawthon; Elizabeth Barrett Connor; Michael Nevitt; Marjolein Visser; Stephen Kritchevsky; Stefania Badinelli; Tamara Harris; Anne B Newman; Jane Cauley; Luigi Ferrucci; Jack Guralnik Journal: JAMA Date: 2011-01-05 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Caterina Rosano; Howard J Aizenstein; Stephanie Studenski; Anne B Newman Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Nemin Chen; Caterina Rosano; Helmet T Karim; Stephanie A Studenski; Andrea L Rosso Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2020-07-13 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Brooke A Vaughan; Janet E Simon; Dustin R Grooms; Leatha A Clark; Nathan P Wages; Brian C Clark Journal: Front Aging Neurosci Date: 2022-01-31 Impact factor: 5.750