PhD Scientific Days 2025

Theoretical and Translational Medicine I.

Longitudinal Assessment of Gait Changes Linked to Hypertension-Induced Cerebral Microhemorrhages in Mice: Predictive role of Stride Length and Stride Time Asymmetry, and Gait Entropy

Name of the presenter

Ungvari Anna

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Semmelweis University

Authors

Anna Ungvari¹, Attila Kállai¹

1: Semmelweis University

Text of the abstract

Introduction: The Semmelweis Study (SeS) is a prospective longitudinal cohort study involving faculty and staff aged 25 and older at Semmelweis University. It investigates
early determinants of unhealthy aging, with a major focus on vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Gait analysis is utilized in SeS as a proxy for brain health, providing insights into the interplay between vascular and neurological health. Cerebral
small vessel disease (CSVD), including cerebral microhemorrhages (CMHs), is a key contributor to VCI, but its impact on gait remains unclear. To address this gap, we tested novel gait metrics longitudinally in a hypertensive mouse model with histologically verified CMHs.
Aims: This study aims to explore the effects of hypertension-induced CMHs on gait dynamics in a mouse model and assess the predictive value of gait metrics, including stride length, stride time asymmetry, and gait entropy, for detecting early neurological alterations.
Methods: CMHs were induced in a hypertensive mouse model using Angiotensin II and phenylephrine. Gait dynamics were analyzed over 30 days using the CatWalk system, focusing on symmetry indices for stride length (SL), stride time (ST), paw print area, gait entropy, and regularity. CMHs were histologically verified, enabling the correlation of gait changes with underlying vascular pathology.
Results: Approximately 50% of mice with histologically confirmed CMHs exhibited transient increases in gait asymmetry, reflecting subtle neurological impairments.
Increased gait entropy correlated strongly with periods of heightened asymmetry, highlighting the complexity of gait dynamics affected by CMHs. Significant associations were observed between SL and ST symmetry indices and the paw print area symmetry index following hypertension induction, underscoring the interplay between spatial and temporal aspects of gait regulation.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that advanced gait metrics, such as increased entropy and asymmetry indices, can detect dynamic, subclinical neurological alterations associated with CMHs. These findings emphasize the potential of gait analysis as a non-invasive tool for early detection and monitoring of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). This approach bridges translational research and clinical diagnostics, reinforcing the importance of gait as a proxy for brain health in studies like SeS.