Limbic and Basal Ganglia Neuroanatomical Correlates of Gait and Executive Function: Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Intact Cognition

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVEThis study aimed to examine differences in spatiotemporal gait parameters between older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and normal cognition (NC), and to examine limbic and basal ganglia neural correlates of gait and executive function in older adults without dementia.DESIGNThis was a cross sectional study of 46 community dwelling older adults, ages 70–95 with aMCI (n=23) and NC (n=23). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to attain volumetric measures of limbic and basal ganglia structures. Quantitative motion analysis was used to measure spatiotemporal parameters of gait. The Trail Making Test was used to assess executive function.RESULTSDuring fast paced walking, older adults with aMCI demonstrated significantly slower gait speed and shorter stride length compare to older adults with NC. Stride length was positively correlated with hippocampal, anterior cingulate, and nucleus accumbens volumes (P

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