# The interaction between cognition and the environment on gait in older adults.

> **NIH NIH F32** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $69,874

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in older adults. With aging, gait becomes slower, more
unstable, and more variable. Fall prevention interventions commonly target gait impairments as they are one of
the strongest predictors of falls. Falls, however, encompass multiple risk factors including cognitive and
environmental factors. While there is growing evidence that gait and cognition are related, there are limited
longitudinal studies examining the association between gait and cognitive domains. In addition, there is limited
knowledge of how older adults walk in everyday, naturalistic environments. Determining how gait, cognition, and
environmental constraints are interrelated will enhance current fall prevention treatments through a multifactorial
approach. Dr. Katherine Hsieh is a biomechanist by training with a strong background in measuring and
quantifying gait and postural stability as it relates to falls. Her long term career goal is to develop tailored,
targeted, and scalable fall prevention trials for older adults. This proposed F32 will provide her with cross-training
in multiple fall risk domains including training in cognitive function and environmental constraints on gait. Dr.
Hsieh will receive directed, hands-on training to achieve her 4 training objectives: 1) enhance knowledge of the
relationship between cognition and gait; 2) enhance knowledge of environmental constraints on gait; 3) obtain
training in clinical trials research; and 4) improve professional skills including manuscript writing, grant writing,
and conference presentations. Her training plan includes didactic coursework, workshops, and seminars from
Wake Forest School of Medicine. As part of Dr. Hsieh’s hands-on training, she will conduct secondary analysis
of the Brain Networks and Mobility Function (B-NET) study of 240 older adults that included a battery of cognitive
testing and gait measures collected at baseline and 18- and 30-month follow-up. Analysis will also be performed
in a B-NET ancillary study of 90 adults completing everyday walking tasks in challenging environments with
inertial measurement units. Dr. Hsieh’s research aims are to: 1) determine the association between cognitive
function (executive function, processing speed, reaction time, inhibition) and gait (pace, rhythm, asymmetry,
variability, stability) from baseline to 18- and 30-month follow-up, and 2) determine differences in gait
smoothness and gait stability between older adults at high and low risk of Alzheimer’s disease and younger
adults when walking over uneven surfaces and over obstacles. Dr. Hsieh will be mentored by an interdisciplinary
team of leaders in aging research, including Dr. Denise Houston (physical function and falls), Dr. Christina
Hugenschmidt (cognitive and brain function), Dr. Lisa Zukowski (environmental effects on gait), and Dr. Kristen
Beavers (clinical trials design and execution). Ultimately, this proposed training plan and r...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10466169
- **Project number:** 1F32AG077940-01
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine Hsieh
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $69,874
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-20 → 2023-05-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10466169

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10466169, The interaction between cognition and the environment on gait in older adults. (1F32AG077940-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10466169. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*