Impact of Cerebral Microbleeds on Gait, Balance, and Upper Extremities Function in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Background and Purpose: White matter hyperintensites (WMHs) , lacunes brain atrophy have been demonstrated to be positively related gait disorder. However, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) as a manifestation of small vessel disease (CSVD) is still under-investigated. Therefore, correlations between CMBs upper extremity, balance performance were investigated in this study. Methods: A cross-sectional study middle-aged older adults was conducted. CSVD burden measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the location number analysed. Gait functions evaluated using four meter walkway, Tinetti, Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests. Upper extremity function by 10 repeated pronation-supination time, finger tapping opening closings hands. Results: total 224 participants included study, mean age 60.6 ± 10.5 years. The prevalence CMB 34.8% most lobar. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that associated lower velocity, wider stride width, longer TUG test poor on Tinetti SPPB tests independently other coexisting markers risk factors. These relationships appeared explained frontal, temporal, basal ganglia infratentorial regions. motor also had independent especially parietal, temporal areas, ganglia. Conclusions: found both gait, disturbances. presence seems another major driving force for impairment healthy elderly subjects.