Relationship Between Cognitive Abilities and Lower-Limb Movements: Can Analyzing Gait Parameters and Movements Help Detect Dementia? A Systematic Review.

Identifying and diagnosing cognitive impairment remains challenging. Some diagnostic procedures are invasive, expensive, and not always accurate. Meanwhile, evidence suggests that cognitive impairment is associated with changes in gait parameters. Certain gait parameters manifesting differences between people with and without cognitive impairment are more pronounced when adding a secondary task (dual-task scenario). In this systematic review, the capability of gait analysis to identify cognitive impairment is investigated. Twenty-three studies published between 2014 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. A significantly lower gait speed and cadence as well as higher gait variability were found in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or dementia, compared with the group with no cognitive impairment. While dual tasks appeared to amplify the differences between the two populations, the type of secondary tasks (e.g., calculations and recalling phone numbers) had an effect on gait changes. The activity and volume of different brain regions were also different between the two populations during walking. In conclusion, while this systematic review supported the potential of using gait analysis to identify cognitive impairment, there are a number of parameters researchers need to consider such as gait variables to be studied, types of dual tasks, and analysis of brain changes while performing the movement tasks.