A research study titled "Association of Neurocognitive and Physical Function With Gait Speed in Midlife" explains why gait can be a powerful indicator of the risk of disability and death in the elderly. It also encourages us to rethink gait as not only a physical concern but as an integrative measure of physical and mental health.

The speed of walking is a well-known indicator of the risk of functional decline and mortality in older adults, but little is known about the factors associated with gait speed earlier in life. The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that slow gait speed reflects accelerated biological aging at midlife, as well as poor neurocognitive functioning in childhood and cognitive decline from childhood to midlife. This was a cohort study that used data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a population-based study of a representative 1972 to 1973 birth cohort in New Zealand that observed participants to age 45 years (until April 2019). Data analysis was performed from April to June 2019.

There were originally 1037 participants. 997 were alive at the age of 45 years, of whom 904 had gait speed measured. Adults with slow gait speed experienced:

• More physical limitations and poorer physical functions

• poor balance and poor visual-motor coordination

• poor performance on the chair-stand or 2-minute step tests

• accelerated biological aging across multiple organ systems

• older facial appearance

• smaller brain volume, more cortical thinning, smaller cortical surface area and more white matter hyperintensities.

Participants with lower IQ in midlife and participants who exhibited cognitive decline from childhood to adulthood had slower gait at age 45 years. Those with poor neurocognitive functioning as early as age 3 years had slower gait in midlife.

This research study concludes that walking slowly relates to declining cognitive functions, poor physical health, early aging, poor response to rehabilitation, age-related diseases, dementia and early mortality. Quick walking gait lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases, better lung function and good physical strength.

Details of our walking gait often get ignored over other factors of maintaining our health. This research study opens a portal to access better physical and mental health by simply being mindful of our walking gait. After reflecting on this, what do you think will be your walk of life? Do let us know in the comments.

Reference:

1) Rasmussen LJH, Caspi A, Ambler A, Broadbent JM, Cohen HJ, d'Arbeloff T, Elliott M, Hancox RJ, Harrington H, Hogan S, Houts R, Ireland D, Knodt AR, Meredith-Jones K, Morey MC, Morrison L, Poulton R, Ramrakha S, Richmond-Rakerd L, Sison ML, Sneddon K, Thomson WM, Hariri AR, Moffitt TE. Association of Neurocognitive and Physical Function With Gait Speed in Midlife. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Oct 2;2(10):e1913123. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.13123. PMID: 31603488; PMCID: PMC6804027.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Shreya Dave/MSM)