The impact of gait disorders on executive functions in neurological patients: A literature review

This is a literature review covering the intricate and two-way association between gait disorders and executive functioning deficits in individuals with neurological disorders. The review begins by defining executive functions, followed by a discussion of its fundamental components (inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility), and finally, the neural foundation of EF is outlined, focusing on the frontal lobes and related brain networks. A typology of neurological gait disorders (e.g., Parkinsonian, hemiplegic, ataxic) is then described, which is then correlated with their respective etiologies. The cognitive-motor interference model of gait-executive functions interaction and the shared neural resource theories are explored as frameworks explaining the phenomenon, and the dual-task paradigm as a methodological instrument is considered specifically. In the review, the authors examined how this interaction manifests in neurological diseases, including Parkinson's, stroke, and multiple sclerosis, and noted the peculiarities and mechanisms in each instance. Lastly, the clinical implications of this interaction on everyday functioning, risk of falls, and quality of life are addressed, along with what they mean regarding rehabilitation approaches, with a particular focus on integrated motor-cognitive interventions, including dual-task training and novel technologies (e.g., exergaming, virtual reality).