[Gait and stability disorders of the elderly. Clinical analysis of a series of 259 patients older than 70 years]

Gait and stability disorders of the elderly are frequent and a cause of disability, but studies on their clinical features and etiology are scarce, including the relationship between both disorders.To evaluate an extensive series of patients with gait and stability disorders, its clinical variants and posible pathogenic significance.259 patients older than 70 years consulting for chronic gait and stability symptoms in an outpatients neurologic clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Several clinical and evolution data are analyzed.Mean age was 78.8 years and 61.8% were women. 52 % were hypertensive. 161 cases had disequilibrium, 91 a cautious gait and seven other types of gait abnormality. 11 % had associated dementia. 27 % showed subcortical white matter abnormalities on computed tomography scan. In 28 cases a specific cause could be established. In follow-up 33.5 % worsened. Significant differences between cases of disequilibrium and cautious gait were increased age, functional disability and turn abnormality in the latter.Disequilibrium and cautious gait of the elderly share some clinical features, have few specific causes and vary from mild cases to a disablingencephalic gait disease.