Editorial: Effects of aging on locomotor patterns

Abstract

Aging and age-associated neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, may impair walking performance. Changes in walking performance are related to an increase in fall risk, institutionalization, hospitalization, survival rate, and mortality. Due to the increase in the older population, especially age-related diseases, the number of research aiming at understanding the mechanisms behind such changes and tools (interventions) to improve walking performance has increased substantially. In this special issue, we target to compile information and strengthen the discussion about whether and how aging and AD, and PD affect walking (the most common way of human locomotion), and potential interventions to improve walking in these populations. A total of 5 studies composed this special issue, including 4 original papers and 1 review