Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Neurology13 Nov 2026

The relationship between gait kinematics and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease

Annabelle Guay^1,2
Anna Ignatavicius^1,3
Simon J. G. Lewis¹
Eileen Gülke^1,4,5

5 affiliations

¹Macquarie University Brain Institute and Clinic, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University
²Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
³Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney
⁴Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald
⁵Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Abstract

Background: Gait impairment and cognitive dysfunction are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the interaction between these domains, particularly under dual-task walking, is less well characterised.

Objective: To examine associations between gait parameters and cognitive domains in PD during single- and dual-task walking.

Methods: 50 individuals with PD and 21 age-matched healthy controls completed single-task walking and two dual-task conditions, involving naming animals and performing serial subtraction by seven. Gait was recorded using an electronic pressure-sensitive walkway (Zeno™, ProtoKinetics) and analysed for velocity, step length, step time, step length variability, and step time variability. Participants completed cognitive assessments of processing speed, executive function, memory, and language. Associations between gait parameters and cognitive domains were assessed for significant correlations.

Results: In participants with PD, executive dysfunction, measured by the Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B), was differentially associated with increased step length variability during dual-task walking. Less robust findings were observed for single-task conditions or other cognitive domains.

Conclusion: Executive dysfunction appears to relate to impaired control of gait variability under dual-task conditions in PD, consistent with a key role for attentional-executive resources in maintaining stable gait. These findings may help focus future work on specific dual-task interferences relevant to PD progression and gait decline.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{guay2026relationship,
  title = {{The relationship between gait kinematics and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease}},
  author = {Annabelle Guay and Anna Ignatavicius and Simon J. G. Lewis and Eileen Gülke},
  journal = {Frontiers in Neurology},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.3389/fneur.2026.2007520},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.2007520/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - The relationship between gait kinematics and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
AU  - Annabelle Guay
AU  - Anna Ignatavicius
AU  - Simon J. G. Lewis
AU  - Eileen Gülke
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/13
JO  - Frontiers in Neurology
DO  - 10.3389/fneur.2026.2007520
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.2007520/full
AB  - Background: Gait impairment and cognitive dysfunction are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the interaction between these domains, particularly under dual-task walking, is less well characterised.  Objective: To examine associations between gait parameters and cognitive domains in PD during single- and dual-task walking.  Methods: 50 individuals with PD and 21 age-matched healthy controls completed single-task walking and two dual-task conditions, involving naming animals and performing serial subtraction by seven. Gait was recorded using an electronic pressure-sensitive walkway (Zeno™, ProtoKinetics) and analysed for velocity, step length, step time, step length variability, and step time variability. Participants completed cognitive assessments of processing speed, executive function, memory, and language. Associations between gait parameters and cognitive domains were assessed for significant correlations.  Results: In participants with PD, executive dysfunction, measured by the Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B), was differentially associated with increased step length variability during dual-task walking. Less robust findings were observed for single-task conditions or other cognitive domains.  Conclusion: Executive dysfunction appears to relate to impaired control of gait variability under dual-task conditions in PD, consistent with a key role for attentional-executive resources in maintaining stable gait. These findings may help focus future work on specific dual-task interferences relevant to PD progression and gait decline.
SN  - 1664-2295
ER  -

Abstract

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