PhD Scientific Days 2026

Poster Session 3.L - Health Sciences

Linking Microvascular Health to Cognitive Decline: Dual-Task Gait and LSCI Findings from the Semmelweis Study

Name of the presenter

Ungvari, Anna

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Authors

Anna Ungvari¹, Attila Kállai²
1: Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
2: Semmelweis University

Text of the abstract

Introduction
Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is an emerging public health concern in Hungary, particularly with the increasing age of the population. It significantly affects quality of life and functional independence. The Semmelweis Study, a longitudinal workplace cohort study, explores contributors to unhealthy brain aging and VCI. One key measure is dual-task (DT) gait performance, which serves as a proxy for cortical efficiency by assessing the brain’s ability to coordinate motor and cognitive tasks simultaneously. Impaired DT performance reflects cognitive-motor interference and potential early cortical dysfunction.
Aim
This study investigated whether microvascular dysfunction—assessed using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH)—is associated with impaired DT gait performance, offering insights into the microvascular basis of cognitive decline.
Methods
Seventy-five middle-aged adults (28 men, 47 women; aged 45–60) from the Semmelweis cohort completed gait testing under single- and dual-task conditions. The DT involved a cognitive subtraction task. Dual-task cost (DTC) for gait velocity was calculated, and Functional Ambulation Performance (FAP) scores assessed gait adaptability. Microvascular reactivity was measured non-invasively via LSCI, with participants stratified into tertiles based on DTC.
Results
Higher DTC (greater cognitive-motor interference) was linked to lower FAP scores (rho = 0.49; p < 0.01), indicating reduced functional gait under cognitive load. Participants with the most impaired DT performance had significantly reduced microvascular reactivity compared to those with the least impairment (1.35 vs. 1.74; p = 0.02).
Conclusion
Dual-task gait impairment is associated with microvascular dysfunction, supporting its use alongside LSCI as an early indicator of vascular-related cognitive decline.
Funding
EKÖP-2025-323