Gait analysis is an inexpensive, non-invasive aid in diagnosing mild cognitive impairment. However, such tests typically focus on walking a straight path. A team from FAU and UM examined curved-path walking – which requires greater cognitive and motor skills — to learn if it is a better indicator of MCI.
They recorded participants walking straight and curved paths and compared gait markers between participants with MCI and a group of healthy older adults. Curved walking outperformed straight walking in detecting MCI. “The MCI group exhibited a markedly lower average step length and speed during curve walking…,” says researcher Behnaz Ghoraani. “The MCI group showed diminished symmetry and regularity in both step and stride lengths for curved walking.”
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