GAIT SPEED IS ASSOCIATED WITH EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN LATIN AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS FROM LATAMFINGERS

Q: What question does the study address about gait speed and cognition?

The study examines whether gait speed is associated with executive function and processing speed in older adults from Latin American countries, where evidence has been scarce.

Q: Which cognitive outcomes showed significant associations with faster gait speed?

Faster gait speed was significantly associated with Stroop C and Stroop P, semantic fluency, and higher Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores.

Sep 29, 2026

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Dementia prevalence is increasing with aging worldwide, driving disability across Latin American countries. Physical performance has been reported as a predictor of cognitive decline, and gait speed may signal executive dysfunction, yet evidence linking physical and cognitive measures in Latin American older adults remains limited. This cross-sectional study assessed gait speed and executive function in 1,243 participants aged 60–77 from 12 Latin American countries using standardized walk tests, Short Physical Performance Battery measures, and executive/processing speed tasks. Faster gait speed correlated with improved Stroop and semantic fluency and higher MMSE scores, while CST-MS and TMT associations were not significant. It provides initial evidence supporting gait speed as a functional marker with potential preventive relevance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study objective and context

Participants and measures

Statistical approach and results

Implications for prevention

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 1235 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.4128 GAIT SPEED IS ASSOCIATED WITH EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN LATIN AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS FROM LATAMFINGERS Myriam Gutiérrez1, Alejandra Marroig2, Carolina Delgado3, Andrea Slachevsky4, Ana Charamelo5, David Aguillon6, and Lucía Crivelli7, 1. Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile, 2. Universidad de la Republica Uruguay, Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay, 3. Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Region Metropolitana, Chile, 4. Hospital del Salvador, Santiago de Chile, Region Metropolitana, Chile, 5. Hospital Británico, Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay, 6. Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia, 7. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Dementia prevalence is increasing with aging worldwide, a leading cause of disability in Latin American Countries (LAC) . Interestingly, physical performance has been reported as a predictor of cognitive decline, and gait speed has emerged as a potential clinical marker of executive dysfunction. However, evidence of the association between physical and cognitive measures remains scarce, especially in LAC older adults. This study examined the association between gait speed and executive function in older adults from 12 LAC countries. A cross-sectional study including 1,243 participants aged 60 to 77 years from the LatAm-FINGERS randomized multicenter cohort at baseline. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health data were collected. Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), with gait speed measured by a standardized 4-meter walk test. Executive and processing speed were evaluated with the Trail Making Test A and B, Stroop interference index (SII), semantic and phonological fluency, and Concept Shifting Test motor speed (CST-MS). Linear regressions and composite scores were computed. The preliminary results indicate that participants’ mean age was 67.5 ± 4.7 years (67.5% female). Faster gait speed was significantly associated with better Stroop C (p <0.00001), Stroop P (p=0.001), semantic fluency (p=0.02), and higher Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Associations with CST-MS and TMT tests were not statistically significant. This study is the first effort in LAC to associate gait speed with executive tests, contributing to the understanding of a useful functional measure as gait speed, and its potential future preventive applications in LAC.

FAQs

What question does the study address about gait speed and cognition?

The study examines whether gait speed is associated with executive function and processing speed in older adults from Latin American countries, where evidence has been scarce.

How was physical performance and gait speed measured?

Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and gait speed was measured with a standardized 4-meter walk test.

Which cognitive outcomes showed significant associations with faster gait speed?

Faster gait speed was significantly associated with Stroop C and Stroop P, semantic fluency, and higher Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Aditya