Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in the Basal Ganglia Independently Related to Gait Disturbances in Older People With Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases

Abstract

Background and ObjectiveGait disturbances are common in older people and are associated with adverse consequences, e.g., falls and institutionalization. Enlarged perivascular spaces in the basal ganglia (BG-EPVS) are considered an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker of cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVD). However, the consequences of BG-EPVS are largely unknown. Previous studies showed that other CSVD markers were related to gait disturbances. However, the relation between BG-EPVS and gait performance is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the relation between BG-EPVS and gait performance in elderly individuals.MethodsWe recruited older people with CSVD in the Neurology Department of our hospital from December 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021. Participants with BG-EPVS > 20 on the unilateral side of the basal ganglia slice containing the maximum number were classified into the BG-EPVS group (n = 78), and the rest were classified into the control group (n = 164). Quantitative gait parameters and gait variability were provided by the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA; MiniSun, United States) gait analysis system. Semiquantitative gait assessment was measured with the Tinetti test. Point-biserial correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed to investigate the association between BG-EPVS and gait performance.ResultsThe BG-EPVS group had a slower gait speed and cadence, shorter stride length, longer stance phase percentage, smaller pre-swing angle and footfall, and lower Tinetti gait test and balance test scores compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in stride length variability and stride time variability between the two groups (P > 0.05). A correlation analysis showed that BG-EPVS were negatively related to gait speed, cadence, stride length, pre-swing angle, and footfall (γrange = −0.497 to −0.237, P < 0.001) and positively related to stance phase percentage (γ = 0.269, P < 0.001). BG-EPVS was negatively related to the score of the Tinetti gait test (γ = −0.449, P < 0.001) and the balance test (γ = −0.489, P < 0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that BG-EPVS was an independent risk factor for gait disturbances and poor balance after adjusting for confounders, including other CSVD markers.ConclusionLarge numbers of BG-EPVS were independently related to gait disturbances in older people with CSVD. This finding provides information about the consequences of BG-EPVS and risk factors for gait disturbances.