Imperial College Gait Test Predicts 36 Walking Age, Eyes 10,000-Person Health Dataset
Updated
Updated · inews · Jun 3
Imperial College Gait Test Predicts 36 Walking Age, Eyes 10,000-Person Health Dataset
1 articles · Updated · inews · Jun 3
Summary
A 20-minute markerless motion-capture assessment at Imperial College estimated the author's biological "walking age" at 36, about six years younger than her actual age.
The system uses standard video and deep-learning models to map movement in real time, generating measures such as cadence, symmetry, balance and squat performance without body markers.
Researchers say gait can flag painful joints, muscle stiffness and early changes linked to conditions such as dementia or Parkinson's, sometimes up to two years before other symptoms appear.
Imperial's team has assessed about 600 people and wants 10,000 to build a broad baseline of normal movement across ages, with a free public version due at London's Great Exhibition Road Festival on June 6-7.
The longer-term goal is to turn brief walking checks into a routine health tool—potentially even phone-based—that tracks biological ageing and spots slow-moving disease earlier.