HIGHER NIGROSTRIATAL DOPAMINE ATTENUATES GAIT SLOWING DUE TO AGE AND CEREBRAL SMALL VESSEL DISEASE

Older age and cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) predict slower gait. However, some adults maintain faster gait speed despite older age and/or the presence of cSVD. We hypothesize that higher levels of nigrostriatal dopamine can help offset the detrimental effects of older age and cSVD on gait speed. Cross-sectional data are from 85 adults aged 20–85, 56% females without Parkinson’s disease or other neurological diseases. cSVD was quantified as white matter hyperintensities rated on a 0–9 scale. Nigrostriatal DA levels were quantified via molecular imaging of the DA transporter (DAT) ligand. The inverse correlations of age and cSVD with gait speed were stronger for those with DATmedian (rho (p value): -0.18 (0.3) and -0.33 (0.05)). Maintaining higher nigrostriatal DA levels late in life may promote resilience against gait slowing due to older and/or cSVD.