Dementia red flag symptom that can be seen when you walk uncovered as 'dual decliners' identified

A recent series of studies have shed light on how a drop in walking speed among elderly adults could signal the onset of . Research undertaken collaboratively by experts from the University of Minnesota and Monash University has indicated that a deterioration in cognitive function might impede one's ability to walk at a steady pace.

During the extensive study, individuals aged 75 or above were observed closely; findings pointed out that for each year a participant's walking speed reduced by 0.05 metres per second, there was a notable decline in cognitive abilities. This correlation is thought to stem from the fact that cognitive decline impacts those areas of the brain critical for governing gait.

In an exhaustive seven-year study following the health trajectories of 17,000 elderly adults, with assessments conducted biennially, it became apparent that those exhibiting reductions both in mental acuity and walking pace—labelled as "dual decliners"—were more susceptible to developing dementia. Out of this group, dementia was diagnosed in 178 cases, which makes up 11.3% of the total participants studied.

READ MORE:

In stark contrast, those showing no downturn in either cognitive or ambulatory functions had a minimal diagnosis rate of just 0.3%.

Yet, the overall research concluded that decreased walking speeds did not universally herald an increased risk of dementia, as those participants who exhibited no cognitive impairment had a similar risk profile to individuals maintaining a consistent walking speed. The key discovery was that witnessing declines in both walking speed and cognitive capability simultaneously might act as a precursor to dementia, highlighting the interplay between mental processes and physical activities.

Dr Taya Collyer, a biostatistician at Monash University, has led groundbreaking research exposing the ties between brain function and walking pace. She disclosed: "Association between [brain] domains, such as processing speed and verbal fluency, with gait have been explained by the crossover in the underlying networks or pathology."

The study went on to highlight: "These results highlight the importance of gait in dementia risk assessment. They suggest that dual decline in gait speed and memory measure may be the best combination to assess future decline."

This pivotal discovery was shared with the in this week's edition of JAMA Network Open.