Memory Issues and Slow Walking Linked to Early Signs of Dementia

Researchers have found that various genetic and environmental risks are connected to dementia. Now, recent findings published in the journal Neurology show that older individuals who complain about memory problems and have trouble walking at a normal speed could be showcasing early symptoms of the health issue.

For the study, researchers examined data on 26,802 older participants throughout five continents. All of the participants were 60 or older and had been enrolled in 22 studies across 17 nations.

To better assess symptoms of dementia , the researchers conducted a motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR). All of the tests recorded the participants' gait speed and asked them questions about their cognitive function.

They found that roughly one in 10 participants had met the criteria for pre-dementia. The participants who had tested positive for pre-dementia were two times more likely to develop the mental condition within 12 years when compared to people who did not have signs of pre-dementia.

"Our assessment method could enable many more people to learn if they're at risk for dementia, since it avoids the need for complex testing and doesn't require that the test be administered by a neurologist...All that's needed to assess MCR is a stopwatch and a few questions, so primary care physicians could easily incorporate it into examinations of their older patients," said senior author, Joe Verghese, in a news release. 

Researchers found that about 9.7 percent of the adults had MCR, which meant that they had a slow walking speed as well as cognitive issues. The problem was equally common in men and women but more severe in those with less education.

"Even in the absence of a specific cause, we know that most healthy lifestyle factors, such as exercising and eating healthier, have been shown to reduce the rate of cognitive decline," Verghese added. "In addition, our group has shown that cognitively stimulating activities-playing board games, card games, reading, writing and also dancing-can delay dementia's onset. Knowing they're at high risk for dementia can also help people and their families make arrangements for the future, which is an aspect of MCR testing that I've found is very important in my own clinical practice."