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BACKGROUND: Gait speed and cognitive performance tend to decline with age. A better understanding of the dynamics of the association between gait speed and cognitive status may identify preclinical markers and improve diagnostic assessments. The objective was to quantify the association between gait speed and cognitive status in later life. METHODS: A systematic search was undertaken of relevant databases for original articles published prior to June 2017, measuring the association between gait speed and cognition cross-sectionally or longitudinally among the community-dwelling population. A meta-analysis pooled results of the mean difference between concurrent measures of gait speed in the normal cognition group compared to non-normal cognition groups. RESULTS: Thirty-six studies were selected, providing data from 29520 participants. The majority of studies reported a significant association between slower gait speed and worse cognitive function in older people. Results of the meta-analysis of 27 studies showed that, compared to normal controls, clinically meaningful reductions in gait speed ranged from 0.11 m/sec in those with cognitive impairment, to 0.20 m/sec in those with mild dementia, to 0.41 m/sec in those with moderate dementia. CONCLUSION: The strength of evidence for an association between gait speed and cognition was demonstrated by the number and consistency of results, as well as quality of the studies. Identification of diagnostic markers of motor cognitive risk has led to increasing interest in the effects of interventions for prevention of gait speed loss and cognitive decline in aging.

Texting while walking exerts a high cognitive load, and may be a sensitive test of the integrity of the cognitive&ndash, motor interface. We aimed to investigate the association between chronological age and gait speed while texting. A convenience sample of 308 community-dwellers was recruited: n &ge, 50 in each age group (20&ndash, 29, 30&ndash, 39, 40&ndash, 49, 50&ndash, 59) and n = 100 aged &ge, 60 years. Gait speed was measured over 10 metres under two experimental conditions: 1) walking at usual pace, 2) walking at usual pace while texting the message &ldquo, Good morning Harry&rdquo, on their smartphone. Both median gait speed with and without texting decreased with increasing age (p &lt, 0.001). The differences between single- and dual-task gait speed were substantial for each age group and increased after the age of 50 years (p &lt, 0.001). Median gait speeds while texting in people aged 50&ndash, 59 (1.07 m/s) and &ge, 60 years (1.00 m/s) were below the recommended minimum for safely crossing roads (1.20 m/s). Texting while walking currently exposes people aged 50 and over to considerable environmental hazards. The significant slowing of gait speed while texting from middle age may be a marker of neurodegeneration, a cohort effect, or an appropriate compensatory response to reduce the risk of injury.

This paper reports the influence of number of layers and length of GFRP sheets wrapped onto RCC beams for strengthening. Twelve beams of size 700mm x 150mm x 150mm were cast and tested. Two beams without GFRP and ten beams wrapped in different lay-up patterns with one and two layers of GFRP sheets was subjected to three point loading test and ultrasonic pulse velocity test. Initial crack load, ultimate failure load and types of failure have been observed and noted. Experimental results indicate a significant increase in initial and ultimate load carrying capacity of GFRP wrapped beams compared to unwrapped beams. The failed control specimen was retrofitted using U wrap scheme and tested under three point loading.