Alzheimer’s disease Vital signs It was consistently associated with measures of motor performance in a systematic review of 17 studies.
Associations of vital signs with motor performance
The researchers conducted a systematic review of studies published between 2018 and 2026 to investigate the links between neurodegenerative and inflammatory biomarkers and motor outcomes.
Data were collected from 17 eligible studies examining participants worldwide Alzheimer’s disease persistent, including individuals with mild cognitive impairment, perceptual-motor compromise syndrome, cognitive complaints, and older adults with cognitive impairment who are at risk for Dementia.
The review identified several biomarkers that showed consistent relationships with motor decline.
CSF beta-42 (Aβ42) concentrations were associated with slower walking speed, poor balance, poor locomotion, and worse performance on movement assessments.
Tau-related biomarkers, including phosphorylated tau (p-tau), phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181), phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), and total tau (t-tau), have been linked to poor mobility, decreased physical function, and poor dual-tasking performance.
Strong signals from tau markers and neurofilaments
Among the biomarkers examined, neurofilament light chain (NfL) has shown particularly consistent associations with physical decline.
Higher NfL concentrations have been linked to poorer performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery, slower gait speed, and decreased grip strength across several studies.
Longitudinal evidence also suggests that elevated levels of p-tau181, p-tau217, and NfL were associated with accelerated motor and cognitive-motor decline over time.
These findings have been observed not only in people with cognitive impairment, but also in older adults without cognitive impairment.
Whereas inflammatory biomarkers showed less consistent relationships with motor outcomes.
Only one study identified a significant association between serum interleukin-8 and motor performance, while other inflammatory markers showed limited evidence of an association with motor function.
Implications of early detection
The researchers concluded that neurodegenerative biomarkers were consistently associated with motor dysfunction across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum.
Associations were strongest for Aβ42, tau-related biomarkers, and NfL, especially for gait, locomotion, balance, and physical performance.
Importantly, the review highlights growing evidence that motor changes may occur before measurable cognitive decline.
According to the researchers, this observation supports the potential use of motor performance assessments combined with biomarker assessment as early indicators of neurodegeneration.
The findings also underscore the need for more longitudinal research to determine whether motor impairment can serve as a reliable early clinical marker of Alzheimer’s disease development.
reference
siRNA MF et al. Motor performance and its association with biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review. Neurol Sci. 2026;DOI:10.1007/s10072-026-09253-4
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