Quantitative Gait Analysis in Duplication 15q Syndrome and Nonsyndromic ASD.
Rujuta B Wilson, David Elashoff, Arnaud Gouelle and 6 others
PMID 32282133WHAT IT FOUND
People with dup15q syndrome walk significantly slower and with much less stability than those with nonsyndromic autism or typical development.
This distinct gait profile offers a precise, objective way to track motor progress in clinical trials for this genetic syndrome.
Key findings
01Individuals with dup15q syndrome showed slower pace, poorer postural control, and greater gait variability compared to typically developing peers.
02Compared to nonsyndromic ASD, the dup15q group had slower velocity and step length, and significantly greater stride width variability.
03When cognitive ability (FSDQ) was accounted for, most gait differences between dup15q and nonsyndromic ASD disappeared, leaving only step length and its variability distinct.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show how gait changes over time or whether interventions can improve it. Groups were not perfectly matched for age or cognitive ability, and the FSDQ measure includes motor skills, which confounds the relationship between cognition and gait. The use of anti-seizure and psychotropic medications was not controlled for, which could independently affect gait stability and speed. The typically developing control data came from a different study with a slightly different walkway length, though protocols were aligned.
Declared interests
The study was supported by NIH and non-US government research grants. No specific commercial conflicts of interest were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the gait differences between dup15q syndrome and nonsyndromic ASD as purely motor deficits. When cognitive ability was statistically controlled, most differences disappeared, meaning the unique motor profile of dup15q is largely driven by the associated intellectual disability.