Gait & Mobility

The ability to walk independently is a marker of successful aging. Disturbances in gait and mobility in older persons are associated with diseases of the nervous system, and may serve as early warning signs of adverse outcomes such as falls, nursing home placement, and dementia. The overall goal of the Gait and Mobility Project is to define walking patterns and mobility changes seen with normal aging as well as with disease in older persons.

Subjects who participate in this project will be assessed using tests of mobility, strength, walking skills, and ability to walk and talk at the same time. These tests are designed to examine balance and study the brain centers involved in the control of walking. We will also correlate the information gained from these tests with information gained from other aspects of the study including neuropsychological testing and laboratory data.