Timing variability during gait initiation is increased in people with Alzheimer's disease compared to controls.

Background/aims: Variability of constant speed walking is closely related to falls risk in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who fall at 3 times the rate of normal elders. Falls are likely to be provoked during gait initiation, so this study aimed to determine if people with mild-moderate AD have greater variability of gait at initiation.

Methods: Measures of step and stride length and time, step width and double support time were recorded during gait initiation for 10 males and 10 females with AD and 20 age- and gender-matched controls.

Test-retest reliability of spatial and temporal gait parameters of people with Alzheimer's disease.

The reliability of measures of walking in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not been established despite the increased variability of their walking compared to control groups. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of temporal and spatial gait measurements in community dwelling people with AD. Ten males and 10 females with AD completed 10 walks on an instrumented walkway at self-selected comfortable speed on two occasions, 1 week apart.

X-ray photoelectron spectra of iron-sulphur proteins.

The X-ray photoelectron spectra of the 2p, 3s and 3p levels of iron in oxidized Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin indicate that the eight iron atoms in the molecule are indistinguishable. Their magnetic state is indicated both by core polarization splitting of the 3s electrons, and by "shake-up' satellites on the 2p lines. Similar satellites are observed in the 2p lines of reduced Chromatium high-potential iron-sulphur proteins and oxidized spinach ferredoxin, indicating that there too the iron atoms are magnetic.