Gait asymmetry in glucocerebrosidase mutation carriers with Parkinson’s disease

BACKGROUND: GBA mutation carriers with PD (PD-GBA) are at higher risk of cognitive decline, but there is limited data regarding whether there are differences in gait dysfunction between GBA mutation and non-mutation carriers with PD. OBJECTIVES/METHODS: The primary aim of this study was to use quantitative inertial sensor-based gait analysis to compare gait asymmetry in 17 PD-GBA subjects, 17 non-mutation carriers with PD, and 15 healthy control subjects using parameters that had gait laterality and were markers of bradykinesia, in particular arm swing velocity and arm swing range of motion and stride length. RESULTS: Arm swing velocity was more symmetric in PD-GBA subjects vs. non-mutation carriers in the OFF state (12.5 +/- 8.3 vs. 22.9 +/- 11.8%, respectively, p = 0.018). In the ON-medication state, non-mutation carriers with PD, but not PD-GBA subjects, exhibited arm swing velocity (16.8 +/- 8.6 vs. 22.9 +/- 11.8%, p = 0.006) and arm range of motion (26.7 +/- 16.3 vs. 33.4 +/- 18.6%, p = 0.02) that was more asymmetric compared with the OFF-medication state. CONCLUSIONS: In the OFF medication state, arm swing velocity asymmetry may be a useful parameter in helping to distinguish GBA mutation carriers with PD from non-mutation carriers.