Cognitive capacity and smartphone dual-task gait measurement

Walking and cognitive function are interrelated, and thus normal control of gait is perturbed by cognitive impairment. Changes in gait, as measured by quantitative analysis, can be a useful mechanism for detecting early indicators of cognitive decline. Observing changes in gait in the dual-task paradigm, i.e. when the subject walks while performing an attention-demanding task, can be a more sensitive measure. In the study reported in this paper, we developed a mobile application to perform quantitative gait assessment in the single and dual-task condition, using a smartphone's built in sensor system. We show that the gait parameters, as measured by a mobile device, are significantly related to the corresponding parameters reported by a gold-standard motion capture system. We also demonstrate that this approach may be comparable to previously validated assessments of cognition and executive functioning. Mobile technologies offer a platform for sensitive assessment of changes in cognitive function through gait analysis in dual-task conditions. This methodology opens the way for more frequent assessments of cognition, as part of physiotherapy and rehabilitation practice.