Gait disturbances in movement disorders: A motor-cognitive problem

Abstract

Individuals with movement disorders (MD) have gait deficits including impaired automaticity and instability. Despite specific impairments in motor control networks, recent evidence suggests that cognitive deficits are common in individuals with MD and can magnify their gait problems. In this chapter, we present studies showing that locomotor difficulties among individuals with MD are mainly observed in those with cognitive deficits and during complex walking situations in which demands in cognitive and sensorimotor processing increase. Overall, studies demonstrate that gait disturbances and cognitive impairment coexist in MD and together accelerate the loss of mobility in these individuals.