Gait Abnormalities in Parkinson's Disease
What is it about?
Human gait is an important skill in every-day live. It provides the mobility needed to connect with friends and relatives, engage in physical activity, or simply go shopping. In people with Parkinson’s disease, reduced walking speed impairs their mobility, and instabilities can lead to falls. Can we identify how gait abnormalities relate to alterations in the diseased brain to ultimately find better treatment options and improve patients’ lives?
Why is it important?
Our research shows that especially the rhythmic organization of the gait cycle seems to be highly relevant and may represent a valuable marker to aid the clinical diagnosis. Combining biomechanical gait analyses with magnetic resonance imaging, we highlight the relationship of the rhythmic organization with alterations in the microstructural integrity of a small midbrain structure. This can assist researchers and clinicians in developing new and refining existing models and interventions to target symptom management.