Editorial: Effects of aging on locomotor patterns

Abstract

Aging and age-associated neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), may impair walking performance. Changes in walking performance are related to an increase in fall risk, institutionalization, hospitalization, survival rate, and mortality. Due to the increase in the segment of the old population and, consequently, in the number of individuals with age-related diseases, the amount of research aiming at understanding the mechanisms underlying walking changes, examining tools to measure walking, and developing interventions to improve walking performance in older individuals and in age-related diseases has increased substantially. In this special issue, we target to compile information and strengthen the discussion about whether and how aging and neurological diseases, specifically AD and PD, affect walking, and on potential interventions to improve walking in these populations. A total of five studies compose this special issue, including four original papers and one review.