More than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia, according to the NHS, and it affects one in 11 people over the age of 65 in the UK.
Not to be confused with Alzheimer’s, which is a disease in the brain, dementia is a collection of symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease causes cognitive decline, eventually leading to dementia.
It is the most common cause of dementia, however, which, together with vascular dementia, makes up the majority of cases, reports the NHS.
People may be concerned about friends and family, particularly over the age of 65, who become increasingly forgetful, but it’s not the only early symptom of dementia.
A slower walking pace in the elderly may signal early stages, according to a collaborative study by the University of Minnesota and Monash University. Researchers found that as the human brain starts to deteriorate, one’s gait and speed could be impacted due to cognitive decline impairing the brain’s capabilities to manage these functions.
The research involved monitoring participants over 75 years old, noting that a yearly reduction in walking speed by 0.05 meters per second was connected with cognitive setbacks. Over the course of seven years, researchers observed 17,000 older adults, examining their walking speeds and mental agility every two years.
Results revealed that those with simultaneous declines in cognition and walking speed, termed “dual decliners”, were at an increased risk of developing dementia. Out of this group, approximately 178 cases of dementia were detected—11.3 per cent of all study participants.
Conversely, participants who maintained steady cognitive and walking abilities showed the lowest probability of being diagnosed with the condition, with just a 0.3 percent incidence rate.
Alzheimer’s Research UK notes that “some types of dementia can cause movement symptoms”.
The charity elaborated that “these might affect someone before memory and thinking problems start”. Signs to look out for include changes to the way we walk (gait), difficulty with coordination, increased unsteadiness, or limb stiffness.
Lewy body dementia (DLB), is most commonly linked to movement.
What is Dementia with Lewy Bodies?
In this disease, tiny clumps of proteins known as Lewy bodies appear in the nerve cells of the brain. Lewy bodies are named after FH Lewy, the German doctor who first identified them.
In DLB, the symptoms of dementia begin before or around the same time as the person develops problems with movement.
The Alzheimer’s Society notes that Lewy bodies cause a range of symptoms, some of which are shared by Alzheimer’s disease and some by Parkinson’s disease.
According to the NHS, low movement, stiff limbs, tremors (uncontrollable shaking) and shuffling when walking – similar to Parkinson’s disease are common signs of DLB. Fainting, unsteadiness and falls are also linked to this kind of dementia.
A journal article on gait speed and its decline as a predictor of dementia concluded that gait is slower up to seven years prior to the clinical onset of dementia.
The study focused on 3,663 participants who were dementia-free at baseline (mean age, 73.5 years) and were followed up for nine years from a prospective cohort (Three-City study, France) for incident dementia (all-cause, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and other causes).
Although the university study didn’t universally establish the link between walking speed and dementia risk, it was clear that participants showing only a slowdown in walking without prior cognitive issues were at the same risk as those whose walking pace hadn’t changed.
Newer research indicates that a joint decrease in both cognition and walking pace could be an early indicator of dementia, according to scientists who propose that these factors are crucial in evaluating cognitive deterioration.
The research, spearheaded by Dr Taya Collyer, a biostatistician at Monash University, emphasises, “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.”
Walking and dementia
The link between walking and dementia isn’t just a negative one, according to a study published online Sept. 6, 2022, by JAMA Neurology. The study found that it could be a preventative measure.
Researchers analysed health and activity information for 78,000 healthy people (ages 40 to 79). The participants wore fitness trackers 24 hours a day for at least three days and were then followed for seven years.
It was found that people who walked about 9,800 steps per day (about five miles) were 51% less likely to develop dementia.
Meanwhile, those who walked just 3,800 steps per day (about two miles) were about 25% less likely to develop dementia.
The study was observational and cannot provide conclusive proof that walking itself made the difference. However, it is widely known that the more steps you take, the better for your health, your brain, your heart, and your protection against cancer, among other benefits.
