Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome

12 May 2022
22 June 2022

We are very pleased to introduce you to our latest virtual special issue for the European Journal of Neurology: Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.


This syndrome, characterised by slow gait and subjective cognitive complaints, has been proposed as a pre-dementia state. As evidence has accumulated since the original description in 2013, including the papers in this virtual issue, there is reason for increasing confidence that this could be an important marker of higher risk for later development of dementia.


Identification of early stages of neurodegenerative disorders is a clinical and research priority. The amazing ability of the brain (and people) to compensate for dysfunction has a dark side, in that it prevents clinicians from identifying patients early, and so makes it more difficult for us to intervene with existing and novel treatments at a time when we might have more impact on the degenerative process. 


The motoric cognitive risk syndrome can be identified via simple self-report and observation of gait and is excitingly therefore amenable to monitoring via wearable technology. It is a way, perhaps, that we might easily identify an at risk population for further in-depth screening, bringing us closer to being able to intervene at an early stage in those with dementia.



Mark Edwards

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Table of Contents

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome: Next steps

Joe Verghese, 

The association between olfactory bulb volume, cognitive dysfunction, physical disability and depression in multiple sclerosis

Ö. Yaldizli,  I.-K. Penner,  T. Yonekawa,  Y. Naegelin,  J. Kuhle,  M. Pardini,  D. T. Chard,  C. Stippich,  J.-i. Kira,  K. Bendfeldt,  M. Amann,  E.-W. Radue,  L. Kappos,  T. Sprenger, 

The spectrum of pre-dementia stages: cognitive profile of motoric cognitive risk syndrome and relationship with mild cognitive impairment

H. Sekhon,  G. Allali,  C. P. Launay,  J. Chabot,  O. Beauchet, 

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome and incident dementia: results from a population-based prospective and observational cohort study

O. Beauchet,  H. Sekhon,  C.P. Launay,  Y. Rolland,  A.-M. Schott,  G. Allali, 

Prevalence and factors associated with motoric cognitive risk syndrome in community-dwelling older Chinese: a cross-sectional study

L. Zhang,  B. L. Feng,  C. Y. Wang,  Y. Zhang,  P. Lin,  Y. L. Zhang,  N. N. He,  D. J. Wang,  L. F. Jiang,  H. H. Ye, 

Non-memory subjective cognitive concerns predict incident motoric cognitive risk syndrome

C. Nester,  E. Ayers,  L. Rabin,  J. Verghese, 

Risk factors for the progression of motoric cognitive risk syndrome to dementia: Retrospective cohort analysis of two populations

Zeev Meiner,  Emmeline Ayers,  David A. Bennett,  Cuiling Wang,  Joe Verghese, 
Risk factors for the progression of motoric cognitive risk syndrome to dementia: Retrospective cohort analysis of two populations

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a predementia syndrome characterized by cognitive complaints and slow gait. Depressive symptoms, lower cognitive activity participation and presence of apolipoprotein E ε4 allele were identified as predictors of transition to dementia in MCR patients. These findings suggest common pathological mechanisms underlying mood, gait and cognitive declines in aging, which could help develop preventive strategies.

Physical and cognitive profiles in motoric cognitive risk syndrome in an older population from Southern Italy

Ilaria Bortone,  Chiara Griseta,  Petronilla Battista,  Fabio Castellana,  Luisa Lampignano,  Roberta Zupo,  Giancarlo Sborgia,  Madia Lozupone,  Biagio Moretti,  Gianluigi Giannelli,  Rodolfo Sardone,  Francesco Panza, 
Physical and cognitive profiles in motoric cognitive risk syndrome in an older population from Southern Italy

In a large non-demented older population-based sample, motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) prevalence was 9.9% (95% confidence interval 8.2–11.9), without sex differences. MCR was associated with decreased processing speed and executive function but not with decreased global cognition and memory. MCR was related to higher exhaustion, low muscle strength, low physical activity and increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers.

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Prevalence/potential risk factors for motoric cognitive risk and its relationship to falls in elderly Chinese people: a cross-sectional study

Jing-lin Yuan,  Rui-xue Zhao,  Ya-jun Ma,  Xiao-dong Li,  Xiao-mei Zhou,  Xiao-feng Wang,  Xiao-yan Jiang,  Shu-juan Li, 
Prevalence/potential risk factors for motoric cognitive risk and its relationship to falls in elderly Chinese people: a cross-sectional study

Association between depression and motoric cognitive risk syndrome among community-dwelling older adults in China: A 4-year prospective cohort study

Weihao Xu,  Anying Bai,  Yuanfeng Liang,  Zhanyi Lin, 

The prevalence and associated factors of motoric cognitive risk syndrome in multiple ethnic middle-aged to older adults in west China: a cross-sectional study

Xuelian Sun,  Kiyana Elizabeth Harris,  Lisha Hou,  Xin Xia,  Xiaolei Liu,  Meiling Ge,  Shuli Jia,  Lixing Zhou,  Wanyu Zhao,  Yan Zhang,  Yunli Zhao,  Yang Mei,  Gongchang Zhang,  Liuyi Xin,  Qiukui Hao,  Yanjiao Shen,  Chun Xiao,  Jirong Yue,  Ning Ge,  Ying Li,  Birong Dong,  Qianli Xue, 
The prevalence and associated factors of motoric cognitive risk syndrome in multiple ethnic middle-aged to older adults in west China: a cross-sectional study

The overall prevalence of MCR was 9.74% (593/6091) in mid-age and older community-dwelling adults in west China, and the prevalence varied sharply in different ethnic groups, with the highest being 14.25% in Tibetan and the lowest being 4.55% in Qiang.

Open Access

Risk factors, neuroimaging correlates and prognosis of the motoric cognitive risk syndrome: A population-based comparison with mild cognitive impairment

Amber Yaqub,  Sirwan K. L. Darweesh,  Lisanne J. Dommershuijsen,  Meike W. Vernooij,  Mohammad Kamran Ikram,  Frank J. Wolters,  Mohammad Arfan Ikram, 
Risk factors, neuroimaging correlates and prognosis of the motoric cognitive risk syndrome: A population-based comparison with mild cognitive impairment

Individuals with motoric cognitive risk syndrome are at increased risk of dementia and mortality in the absence of mild cognitive impairment. Risk factors and neuroimaging markers were similar between the two dementia prodromes.