Gait as Predictor of Dementia and Falls. The Gait and Brain Cohort Study

This longitudinal cohort study started in 2007 and is aiming to assess 600 older persons (60 y/o to 85 y/o) at risk of development cognitive impairment and dementia, during a 25 year of follow-up, since we expanded the study to recruit more participants, which was approved by our Institutional Research Board. The follow-up period was selected in order to cover the potential progression to dementia of at least two-third of the participants. From 2007 to 2023, for the first five years of follow up, assessments were conducted at baseline and every 6 months; since 2023, this was changed by which assessments are being conducted every 12-months along with performing a virtual assessment of outcomes only, every 6-months. After the visit at 60 months, participants will then be followed once a year for 20 years. The six months period between assessments during the first 5 years was selected since it is the minimum time required for detecting significant changes between assessments in cognitive measurements and for avoiding testing learning effects. If changes are not noted within the first five years, then the annual follow-up period will provide sufficient time periods to detect significant changes in cognition, gait, and balance measures. Blood test for genotyping (ApoE4 carrier) is being performed only at baseline assessments. Cognitive, gait and balance assessments are being performed in all 12-month follow-up visits. From 2010 to 2021, 3Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (structural and functional -resting state-) and MRI spectroscopy are being performed at four different time points: at baseline, month 18 and month 36, and month 60, following the Canadian Dementia Imaging protocol (http://www.cdip-pcid.ca.). Since 2021, the 18-month MRI timepoint changed to be performed at 12-month visit to align MRI timepoints with blood draw, which allows analysis of MRI and biomarker comparisons over time. For the 20-month Follow-Up period, MRI was performed at Year-2, Year-5 and Year-7 until 2018. Since 2018, the 20-Year Follow-Up MRI timepoints changed to Year-3, Year-5, Year-7 and Year-10. Blood and brain imaging were added after the second wave of the study, in 2010.