The “Motoric Cognitive Risk” syndrome in the Canadian population: analysis of baseline assessment of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Cognition and locomotion are two human abilities controlled by the brain. Their decline is highly prevalent with physiological and pathological aging, and is greater than the simple sum of their respective prevalence, suggesting a complex age-related interplay between cognition and locomotion. Recently, it has demonstrated that Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR), which combines subjective cognitive complaint with objective slow gait speed, is a pre-dementia syndrome. MCR syndrome is a better predictor of vascular dementia than of Alzheimer disease (AD).rnDetermining the Canadian prevalence and the association of MCR syndrome with cardio-vascular risk factors and diseases is a step for a better understanding of this syndrome. We have the opportunity for the first time with the baseline assessment of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) to 1) obtain reliable estimates of MCR prevalence in the Canadian population and 2) examine MCR-related cardio-vascular risk factors and diseases.

The major findings of the study were that motoric cognitive risk is associated with cardiovascular disease and their risk factors in the Canadian population. Specifically, a stronger association was reported for cardiovascular risk factors in younger adults and cardiovascular disease in older adults. The divergence in findings from previous studies emphasizes the need for more Canadian research to better understand this population.