Journal
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
Volume 23, Issue 3, Pages 329-342Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/mds.21720
Keywords
gait; executive function; attention; Parkinson's disease; Alzheimer's disease; aging; dual task; review article
Categories
Funding
- NCRR NIH HHS [P41 RR013622-05S10046, P41 RR013622, RR-13622, P41 RR013622-05S10049] Funding Source: Medline
- NIA NIH HHS [R29 AG014100, AG-08812, P60 AG008812, R01 AG014100, AG-14100, R01 AG014100-07] Funding Source: Medline
- NICHD NIH HHS [R01 HD039838-01, R01 HD039838, HD-39838] Funding Source: Medline
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Until recently, gait was generally viewed as a largely automated motor task, requiring minimal higher-level cognitive input. Increasing evidence, however, links alterations in executive function and attention to gait disturbances. This review discusses the role of executive function and attention in healthy walking and gait disorders while summarizing the relevant, recent literature. We describe the variety of gait disorders that may be associated with different aspects of executive function, and discuss the changes occurring in executive function as a result of aging and disease as well the potential impact of these changes on gait. The attentional demands of gait are often tested using dual tasking methodologies. Relevant studies in healthy adults and patients are presented, as are the possible mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of gait during dual tasking. Lastly, we suggest how assessments of executive function and attention could be applied in the clinical setting as part of the process of identifying and understanding gait disorders and fall risk. (c) 2007 Movement Disorder Society.
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