Interest of dual-task-related gait changes in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Abstract

Background: Gait disorders in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) share similar characteristics found in pathologies presenting with higher-level gait disorders that have been specifically associated with gait changes during walking while simultaneously performing an attention-demanding task (i.e. dual tasking). The current study assessed the effect of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tapping on quantitative gait modification during single and dual tasking in patients with a suspicion of iNPH. Methods: Of 53 patients suspected of iNPH, 18 have been included in this study. Gait analysis during single- and dual-task condition (walking and backward counting) before and after tapping of 40ml CSF has been performed. Results: Gait speed (P<0.01) and stride length (P<0.05) were significantly improved during dual-task conditions after CSF tapping compared to the gait performance before spinal tapping, without such improvement for gait parameters during single-tasking. Conclusion: Dual-tasking condition better reveals gait improvement after CSF tapping than single-tasking in patients suspected of iNPH. © 2010 The Author(s). European Journal of Neurology © 2010 EFNS.