Gait disorders among elderly patients. A survey study of 50 patients.

A series of 50 patients (mean age, 79.5 years) were examined for undiagnosed gait disorders. A single causal diagnosis was made in 56% (28) of the patients. Myelopathy from cervical spine disease was a common cause in 16% (eight patients). Eighteen percent (nine patients) had multiple sensory disorders. Sixteen percent (eight patients) had an idiopathic senile gait disorder, as defined by failure to establish other causes. Twenty-four percent (12 patients) had disorders for which effective primary therapy was available. As a group, patients with gait disorders had ventricular enlargement by computed tomography, when compared with age-matched controls.