A socially-engaged lifestyle moderates the association between gait velocity and cognitive impairment

Abstract

Objective: Cognitive status has been linked to impaired gait velocity, and diminished social and physical engagement. To date, the potential moderating influence of lifestyle engagement on gait-cognitive status associations has not been systematically explored. The present investigation examines whether a socially- or physically-engaged lifestyle moderates the association between diminished gait velocity and likelihood of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) classification.

Methods: Participants (aged 65+, M_age=73 years) were classified as either healthy controls (n = 30) or a-MCI (n = 24), using neuropsychological test scores and clinical judgement. Gait velocity was indexed using a GAITRite computerized walkway, engaged lifestyle (social and physical subdomains) were measured using a well-validated self-report measure, the revised Activity Lifestyle Questionnaire.

Results: Logistic regression, evaluating likelihood of a-MCI classification, yielded a significant interaction between a socially-engaged lifestyle and gait velocity (b=.01, SE=.003, p=.015). Follow-up simple effects were derived for two levels (+/-1SD) of social engagement; for individuals 1 SD below the mean, the association between gait velocity and increased likelihood of a-MCI classification was exacerbated (probability of a-MCI classification for those with slower gait velocity was 60% higher for individuals 1 SD below vs 1 SD above the mean of social engagement). Physically-engaged lifestyle did not significantly moderate the gait-cognitive status association.

Conclusions: The significant moderating influence of social engagement has several implications, including the likelihood that distinct mechanisms underlie the relationships of social engagement and gait velocity to cognitive function, the value of social variables for well-being, and the potential utility of socially-based interventions that may prevent/delay a-MCI onset.

Keywords:

• Cognitive status
• mild cognitive impairment
• gait velocity
• social engagement

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master’s) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to J. Gorenko. The PREVENT study and this research were supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (418676-2012, 06468-2017), the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (R21 AG045575), and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (CI-SCH-01925(07-1)) to S.W.S. MacDonald and R.S. Stawski. S.W.S. MacDonald acknowledges support of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Further information about the PREVENT study can be obtained from S.W.S. MacDonald ([email protected]).