Source
Neurology. 45(5):908-14, 1995 May.
Abstract
Patients with cognitive impairment, particularly as a result of
Alzheimer's disease (AD), are at increased risk for falls, but
it is unclear how, or if, they differ from normal adults in their
balance, gait, or ability to clear an obstacle in their path.
Using an optoelectronic camera system, we compared body motions and
force output at the feet in patients with
probable AD (n = 17) with those in healthy older adults (n = 15)
while they stood on a force plate or on a beam
attached to the force plate that was either stationary or
accelerating. Using the same camera system and comparing this
AD group with another group of healthy older adults (n = 24), we
observed the AD patients during normal walking and
while clearing 25- and 152-mm-high obstacles. None of the AD patients
had extrapyramidal signs or musculoskeletal
impairments. Compared with healthy older adults, normal walking speed
was significantly slower in the AD group (p <
0.0001). While clearing either obstacle, the AD patients were
significantly slower in their approach (p < 0.0001) and
crossing (p < 0.0001) speeds and landed closer to the obstacle after
having crossed it (p < 0.02). Moreover, the
percent of trials in which a subject made contact with an obstacle
was significantly higher in patients with AD (p <
0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)