Objectives:

To determine if slow walking speed is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in older Chilean adults, and to investigate if this association is modify according to levels of physical activity (PA) and sitting time.

Methods:

1,082 adults over 60 years of age participants from the crosssectional 2009-2010 Chilean National Health Survey were included in this study. The speed of walking (normal or slow) was self-reported, the risk of cognitive deterioration was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaire. The sociodemographic and lifestyle variables were obtained through the application of questionnaires validated in the ENS 20092010, nutritional status was also assessed through body mass index.

Results:

Older adults who presented a lower walking speed showed a greater risk of presenting cognitive impairment compared to those who walked at a normal gait speed (OR: 1.62 [95% CI: 1.06, 2.54], p = 0.036). This association was independent of sociodemographic, anthropometric, lifestyle variables.

Conclusion:

Older adults who reported walking at a slower gait speed than their peers of the same age presented an increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to those who had a normal gait speed. The probability of cognitive impairment in older adults with slow gait speed increased in those who did not comply with the PA recommendations given by the World Health Organization or had four or more hours per day in sedentary activities.

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