Gait as Predictor of Dementia and Falls. The Gait and Brain Cohort Study

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03020381
• Recruitment Status: Unknown
• First Posted: January 13, 2017
• Last Update Posted: March 2, 2020
• Sponsor: Lawson Health Research Institute
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Lawson Health Research Institute

Study Description

Brief Summary:

Motor slowing and cognitive slowing are more prevalent as we age. Importantly, the presence of both in an older person increases their risk of having dementia by ten times. Currently, there are no clinically meaningful predictors of progression to dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The main hypothesis is that subtle variations in gait while performing a simple cognitive task is a reliable, easy to perform, and feasible methodology to detect those older adults at higher risk of progression to dementia and also, at higher risk of further mobility decline and falls.

Rationale. The Canadian population is aging. According to recent estimates, the proportion of the population aged 65 and older will increase rapidly from 13% in 2005 to 25% by 2031. This increase in proportion is accompanied by a considerable amount of disability and subsequent dependency which has major effects on both the quality of life of older adults and their caregivers, and on the Canadian health care system. An important goal of geriatric medicine is to reduce the gap between life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy by reducing disability and dependency in the later years of life. A substantial portion of this disability stems from two major geriatric syndromes: cognitive impairment and mobility limitation. The ultimate manifestations of these syndromes are dementia and falls. Interestingly, these manifestations often coexist in elderly people: falling is a common geriatric syndrome affecting about a third of older adults each year, and dementia affects about a third of Canadians aged 80 and over. Together, dementia and falls are responsible for much of the discomfort, disability, and health care utilization in older adults and each will become more prevalent as older Canadians are expected to number approximately $9 million by 2031. The combined direct cost of dementia and falls for the Canadian Health System is over $4.9 billion per year.

Establishing reliable and easy to obtain predictors to accurately identify MCI patients at highest risk of progressing to dementia is essential first, to determine who will benefit from additional and/or invasive testing and second, to implement preventative strategies, including cognitive training, physical exercises, and aggressive vascular risk factors correction to delay progression. Even a modest one-year delay in dementia incidence could save Canada $109 billion over 30 years.

Condition or disease
Gait Apraxia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Subjective Cognitive Impairment; Cerebral Atrophy; Alzheimer Disease; Dementia

Detailed Description:

This longitudinal cohort study started in 2007 and is aiming to assess 400 older persons (60 y/o to 85 y/o) at risk of development cognitive impairment and dementia, during a 15 year of follow-up. The follow-up period was selected in order to cover the potential progression to dementia of at least two-third of the participants. For the first five years of follow up, assessments are conducted at baseline and every 6 months; after the visit at 60 months, participants will then be followed once a year for 10 years. The six months period between assessments during the first 5 years was selected since it is the minimum time required for detecting significant changes between assessments in cognitive measurements and for avoiding testing learning effects. If changes are not noted within the first five years, then the annual follow-up period will provide sufficient time periods to detect significant changes in cognition, gait, and balance measures.

Blood test for genotyping (ApoE4 carrier) is being performed only at baseline assessments. Cognitive, gait and balance assessments are being performed in all visits. 3Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (structural and functional -resting state-) and MRI spectroscopy are being performed at four different time points: at baseline, month 18 and month 36, and month 60, following the Canadian Dementia Imaging protocol (http://www.cdip-pcid.ca.) Blood and brain imaging were adedd after the second wave of the study, in 2010.

Study Design

• Study Type: Observational
• Estimated Enrollment: 400 participants
• Observational Model: Cohort
• Time Perspective: Prospective
• Official Title: Gait as Predictor of Cognitive Decline, Dementia, and Risk of Falls in MCI. A Cohort Study
• Study Start Date: December 2007
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: January 2023
• Estimated Study Completion Date: January 2023

Groups and Cohorts

Group/Cohort
Cognitively Normal (Control Group); Participants aged 60 and older, with absence of Dementia (by DSM IV and DSM V) criteria. Normal age-, sex-, and education-adjusted performance on standardized cognitive tests, which are used to classify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or prodromal AD.
Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI); Participants aged 60 and older, with absence of Dementia (by DSM IV and DSM V) criteria. Normal age-, sex-, and education-adjusted performance on standardized cognitive tests, which are used to classify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or prodromal AD. Self-experienced persistent decline in cognitive capacity in comparison with a previously normal status and unrelated to an acute event. Answering "yes" to both of the following questions: "Do you feel like your memory or thinking is becoming worse?" and "Does this concern you?"
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Participants aged 60 and older that have self-experienced persistent decline in cognitive capacity and unrelated to an acute event. MCI is operationalized following Peterson's criteria as: i) presence of subjective memory complaints from the patient and family; ii) objective memory impairment in cognitive tests (below 1.5 SD on standardized cognitive tests adjusted by age, sex, and education-); iii) preserved activities of daily living (assessed using the Lawton-Brody scale); iv) absence of clinical dementia established using DSM-IV-TR (from 2007 to 2013) and DSM V (from 2014 and onwards)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Progression to Dementia [ Time Frame: 15 years of follow-up ]
   The primary outcome is "progression to dementia" ascertained by clinician investigator using DSM-IV-TR (from 2007 to 2013) and DSM V (from 2014 and onwards). At the time of diagnosis, clinicians are blinded to baseline gait or baseline neuro-psychological test scores. Participants are being re-assessed after six months of the time point of ascertainment of dementia to confirm dementia status.
2. Type of Dementia [ Time Frame: 15 years of follow-up ]
   Type of dementia is being established using standardized criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia (VaD).

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Development of Mobility Decline [ Time Frame: 15 years of follow-up ]
   It is expected that MCI individuals with higher gait variability at baseline will develop mobility decline, defined as incident sloving in gait velocity (cm/s) by 10 cm/s
2. Incidence of Falls [ Time Frame: 15 years of follow-up ]
   Falls is defined as 'an unintentionally coming to rest on the ground, floor, or other lower level and not due to a seizure or an acute stroke. Recurrent falls are defined as two or more events in a 12 months period. This outcome will be analyzed as the rate of falls over 36 months (defined as number of falls person-time at risk), the proportion of participants who fall (0, 1) and the proportion of recurrent fallers (2+ falls).
3. Brain anatomical changes (grey matter) [ Time Frame: 15 years of follow-up ]
   Changes in grey matter volume are being as absolute change (in cm3) across assessments
4. Brain anatomical changes (white matter) [ Time Frame: 15 years of follow-up ]
   Changes in white matter volume is being evaluated as absolute change (in cm3) across assessments.
5. Brain anatomical changes (ventricular volume) [ Time Frame: 15 years of follow-up ]
   Changes in ventricular volume is being evaluated as absolute change (in cm3) across assessments

Biospecimen Retention:   Samples With DNA

APOEε4 carrier status will be determined by PCR of genomic DNA extracted from anticoagulated blood. Carrier status is determined by dichotomizing into ε4- (ε2/ε3 heterozygote or ε2/ε3 homozygote) and ε4+ (ε4 homozygote or ε4 heterozygote) for consistency with previous studies.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants 60 years or older are being recruited from our Geriatrics and Memory Clinics at University of Western Ontario affiliated hospitals, from advertisements placed in local (London, ON) newspapers, and referrals from family physicians or community partners. Participants are being followed-up for up to 15 years after baseline measurements (twice annual or annual follow-up visits).

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Absence of Dementia (DSM IV-TR or DSM V criteria)
• MMSE score >26
• MoCA score <26
• Aged 65 years and older;
• Able to walk independently 10 meters without any gait aid (for example: walker, cane);

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to understand English;
• Parkinsonism or any neurological disorder with residual motor deficit (e.g.: stroke, epilepsy);
• Musculoskeletal disorder detected by clinical examination which affects gait performance;
• Active osteoarthritis affecting the lower limbs at clinical evaluaiton
• Use of psychotropics which can affect motor performance (e.g. neuroleptics and benzodiazepines)
• Severe Depression (score > 12/15 on the Geriatric Depression Scale).

Contacts and Locations

Contacts

Contact: Dr. Manuel Montero Odasso, MD, PhD; 5196854292 ext 45024

Locations

Canada, Ontario

Gait and Brain Lab, Parkwood Institute; Recruiting

London, Ontario, Canada, N6C 0A7

Contact: Dr. Manuel Montero Odasso 5196854292 ext 45024 mmontero@uwo.ca

Sponsors and Collaborators

Lawson Health Research Institute

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Manuel Montero Odasso, M.D.; Director, Gait and Brain Lab

More Information

Publications:

Pieruccini-Faria F, Sarquis-Adamson Y, Montero-Odasso M. Mild Cognitive Impairment Affects Obstacle Negotiation in Older Adults: Results from "Gait and Brain Study". Gerontology. 2019;65(2):164-173. doi: 10.1159/000492931. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Pieruccini-Faria F, Muir-Hunter SW, Montero-Odasso M. Do depressive symptoms affect balance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment? Results from the "gait and brain study". Exp Gerontol. 2018 Jul 15;108:106-111. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.004. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

Montero-Odasso M, Speechley M, Muir-Hunter SW, Sarquis-Adamson Y, Sposato LA, Hachinski V, Borrie M, Wells J, Black A, Sejdic E, Bherer L, Chertkow H; Canadian Gait and Cognition Network. Motor and Cognitive Trajectories Before Dementia: Results from Gait and Brain Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Sep;66(9):1676-1683. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15341. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

Montero-Odasso M, Speechley M. Falls in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults: Implications for Risk Assessment And Prevention. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Feb;66(2):367-375. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15219. Epub 2018 Jan 10.

Montero-Odasso M, Camicioli R, Muir-Hunter SW. Dual-Task Gait And Incident Dementia-A Step Forward, But Not There Yet-Reply. JAMA Neurol. 2017 Nov 1;74(11):1380-1381. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.2880. No abstract available.

Sakurai R, Montero-Odasso M. Apolipoprotein E4 Allele and Gait Performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results From the Gait and Brain Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017 Nov 9;72(12):1676-1682. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glx075.

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Montero-Odasso MM, Sarquis-Adamson Y, Speechley M, Borrie MJ, Hachinski VC, Wells J, Riccio PM, Schapira M, Sejdic E, Camicioli RM, Bartha R, McIlroy WE, Muir-Hunter S. Association of Dual-Task Gait With Incident Dementia in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results From the Gait and Brain Study. JAMA Neurol. 2017 Jul 1;74(7):857-865. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.0643. Erratum In: JAMA Neurol. 2017 Nov 1;74(11):1381.

• Responsible Party: Lawson Health Research Institute
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03020381
• Other Study ID Numbers: 17200
• First Posted: January 13, 2017
• Last Update Posted: March 2, 2020
• Last Verified: February 2020

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Undecided

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Gait Apraxia; Brain Diseases; Gait Disorders, Neurologic; Alzheimer Disease; Dementia; Apraxias; Cognitive Dysfunction; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Psychomotor Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations