Imagine you’re trying to walk on a rocky path, but you can’t feel the ground beneath your feet. That’s what it’s like for older adults with peripheral neuropathy (PN), a condition that impairs foot sensation and increases the risk of falls. However, researchers have discovered an innovative solution called Walkasins – a lower-limb sensory prosthesis that stimulates the feet using mechanical pressure. In a pilot study, older adults with PN wore Walkasins daily for six months. The results were amazing – participants showed significant improvements in their gait and mobility, as assessed by the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA). What’s more, brain imaging revealed changes in network connectivity associated with these improvements. Specifically, greater improvements in FGA scores were correlated with increased connectivity within brain networks involved in sensorimotor function (Default Mode Network, Somatosensory Network, and Frontoparietal Network). Improved connectivity between these networks was also observed. These findings suggest that Walkasins may induce beneficial changes in brain network connectivity through sensory replacement stimulation. This research provides hope for older adults with PN, potentially offering an effective way to enhance their ability to walk safely and reduce the risk of falls. So why not delve deeper into this exciting study? Check out the link below to learn more!

Foot sole somatosensory impairment associated with peripheral neuropathy (PN) is prevalent and a strong independent risk factor for gait disturbance and falls in older adults. Walkasins, a lower-limb sensory prosthesis, has been shown to improve gait and mobility in people with PN by providing afferent input related to foot sole pressure distributions via lower-leg mechanical tactile stimulation. Given that gait and mobility are regulated by sensorimotor and cognitive brain networks, it is plausible improvements in gait and mobility from wearing the Walkasins may be associated with elicited neuroplastic changes in the brain. As such, this study aimed to examine changes in brain network connectivity after 26 weeks of daily use of the prosthesis among individuals with diagnosed PN and balance problems. In this exploratory investigation, assessments of participant characteristics, Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were completed at study baseline and 26 weeks follow-up. We found that among those who have completed the study (N = 8; mean age 73.7 years) we observed a five-point improvement in FGA performance as well as significant changes in network connectivity over the 26 weeks that were correlated with improved FGA performance. Specifically, greater improvement in FGA score over 26 weeks was associated with increased connectivity within the Default Mode Network (DMN; p < 0.01), the Somatosensory Network (SMN; p < 0.01), and the Frontoparietal Network (FPN; p < 0.01). FGA improvement was also correlated with increased connectivity between the DMN and the FPN (p < 0.01), and decreased connectivity between the SMN and both the FPN (p < 0.01) and cerebellum (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that 26 weeks of daily use of the Walkasins device may provide beneficial neural modulatory changes in brain network connectivity via the sensory replacement stimulation that are relevant to gait improvements among older adults with PN.

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