A translational approach to capture gait signatures of neurological disorders in mice and humans

Lauren Broom, Brian A. Ellison, Audrey Worley, Lara Wagenaar, Elina Sörberg, Christine Ashton, David A. Bennett, Aron S. Buchman, Clifford B. Saper, Ludy C. Shih, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, Veronique G. Vanderhorst*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

A method for capturing gait signatures in neurological conditions that allows comparison of human gait with animal models would be of great value in translational research. However, the velocity dependence of gait parameters and differences between quadruped and biped gait have made this comparison challenging. Here we present an approach that accounts for changes in velocity during walking and allows for translation across species. In mice, we represented spatial and temporal gait parameters as a function of velocity and established regression models that reproducibly capture the signatures of these relationships during walking. In experimental parkinsonism models, regression curves representing these relationships shifted from baseline, implicating changes in gait signatures, but with marked differences between models. Gait parameters in healthy human subjects followed similar strict velocity dependent relationships which were altered in Parkinson's patients in ways that resemble some but not all mouse models. This novel approach is suitable to quantify qualitative walking abnormalities related to CNS circuit dysfunction across species, identify appropriate animal models, and it provides important translational opportunities.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3225
JournalScientific Reports
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2017

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute on AgingR01AG017917
National Institute on Aging

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A translational approach to capture gait signatures of neurological disorders in mice and humans'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this