Life expectancy is currently greater than at any other time in history. In 2029, ~25% of the Dutch population will be aged over 65 years. Walking, the most common form of physical activity among older adults, is essential for maintaining independence. However, gait can become challenged with aging, potentially leading to functional decline. Therefore, identifying and preventing gait changes early is vital.
To understand how age affects gait, it is important to examine how changes in gait speed, the most visible age-related change, affects gait measures. Additionally, although an increasing number of studies examine gait in daily-life environments, the impact of environmental differences on gait performance remains poorly understood. Consequently, this thesis of Iris Hagoort examined how age affects gait when the speed and setting of walking were manipulated.
The results underscore the complexity of gait analysis, as task constrains (walking speed and different conditions) exert distinct effects on various aspects of gait. Interestingly, in a population of healthy and active older adults, task constraints had a larger impact on gait than aging itself. Since we observed limited relations between age-related changes in functional properties and gait, more such studies are needed, which could benefit from exploration of brain functions and structures. Additionally, future studies should examine gait in controlled, but challenging environments. Addressing biological aging and using a lifespan approach can deepen our understanding of how aging affects walking and help design interventions to maintain a healthy walking ability.
