Age- and cognitive load–related variability and entropy of gait: integrating coefficient of variation, median absolute deviation, and permutation entropy of spatiotemporal parameters into the Semmelweis Study gait assessment framework

Abstract Aging profoundly alters the neuromotor and cognitive systems that support gait control, leading to increased variability and instability that predict functional decline and dementia risk. In this pilot study, conducted to inform the design of the Semmelweis Study gait assessment pipeline, we examined how aging and cognitive load influence the magnitude and temporal organization of gait fluctuations. The Semmelweis Study is a large, prospective workplace cohort at Semmelweis University d