Walking Slowly Could Be An Early Sign Of Dementia Risk…
Based on the results of a recent Alzheimer’s study, published in the online journal Neurology, researchers believe they will soon be able to use walking speed, alongside memory tests, to assess a person’s risk of developing dementia.
Subtle changes can signal bigger problems
In this latest study, researchers found that how FAST you walk is a surprisingly reliable predictor of whether or not you’ll be facing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in the future.
According to the researchers, elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment coupled with a noticeably slow gait were two times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease within 12 years compared to their peers, also suffering with mild cognitive impairment but who walked at a normal pace.
Lead researcher, Natalia del Campo of the University Hospital Toulouse in France, said: “It’s possible that having subtle walking disturbances in addition to memory concerns may signal Alzheimer’s disease, even before people show any clinical symptoms.”
The researchers added that a simple gait test could one day become an acceptable way to help diagnose Alzheimer’s.
Laura Phipps from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said that there are many reasons for someone’s walking speed to slow down. However, it’s important to explore why and when these changes occur in diseases like Alzheimer’s and “how they can be managed to improve the lives of those affected.”
Louise Walker of the Alzheimer’s Society, welcomed the results of the study but added: “More long-term research is needed to determine whether a build-up of the protein amyloid, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, directly leads to slower walking and whether this could form a suitable part of a clinician’s diagnostic process.”
But why wait for a diagnosis if there is something very simple you can start doing today to help prevent this disease?
Previous, research has shown that Alzheimer’s risk is significantly higher in people with a family history of the disease who also tend to live sedentary lives.
Another study also found that walking just five miles per week protected patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s from losing brain volume.
When brain volume goes, it doesn’t come back.
In that same study, patients who walked those five weekly miles also had a much slower decline in memory loss.
So, there you have it: more walking = more brain volume = more memory.
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Sources:
Way You Walk Can Reveal If You’re Getting Alzheimer’s, newsmaxhealth.com
Why walking slowly could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, published online, 02.12.2015, independent.co.uk
