Published online Jan 19, 2024. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v14.i1.102
Peer-review started: August 26, 2023
First decision: September 29, 2023
Revised: October 30, 2023
Accepted: December 21, 2023
Article in press: December 21, 2023
Published online: January 19, 2024
The early detection of the white matter hyperintensities (WMH) is difficult in clinical practice, and dual task has been confirmed as a useful tool.
Trail making test (TMT), a commonly used paper-and-pencil cognitive function test, is now modified into different versions. Walking TMT (WTMT) is a modified TMT incorporates a cognitive task and concurrent walking.
The aim of the current study was to assess the gait characteristics of elderly individuals with WMH using the WTMT task.
The WTMT was conducted in a 16 m2 square area (4 m × 4 m). Each participant need to walk according to the coins randomly distributed as TMT-A and TMT-B to complete this task.
The WMH group also required significantly more time to complete the WTMT-A and WTMT-B.
Older adults with WMH showed obviously poorer WTMT performance.
Notably, the TMT has been modified in different ways by multiple research groups previously (e.g., WTMT, oral TMT, driving TMT), and alternative evaluation systems for the TMT also have been reported (e.g., error analysis, derived TMT indices). From our point of view, delta TMT is a good indicator of executive function. Thus, delta WTMT might be another effective tool for detecting the cognitive profile of WMH and neuropsychological features of subcortical vascular dementia in the future.