Gait and Balance Impairments in Alzheimer Disease Patients

Objective To describe the characteristics and associated factors of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients with balance and gait impairments. Methods Balance and gait impairments were assessed in 380 AD patients using the Tinetti test. Results A total of 120 (31.5%) patients had an abnormal Tinetti test, 96 (25.2%) had balance impairments, and 72 (18.9%) patients presented gait impairments. Global Tinetti score was associated with age [odds ratio (OR), 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.14], Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90-0.99), activities of daily living (ADL) score (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47-0.83), and being man (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.25-0.78). Balance impairment was associated with age (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.17), ADL score (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.43-0.84), and being female (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.08-0.49). Gait impairment was associated with age (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.15), MMSE score (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98), ADL score (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46-0.87), body mass index (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.18), presence of comorbidities (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.14-3.96), and the Cornell score (OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.12-7.89). Conclusions AD patients are frequently concerned with balance and gait impairments. These impairments were associated to factors related to the severity of the disease (low MMSE and low ADL); nonmodifiable factors such as age or sex; and modifiable factors such as depression, obesity, and presence of comorbidities.