Could the way a person walks be a warning sign of cognitive decline? There is growing evidence linking a specific way of walking to dementia, researchers say. Gait—the pattern of how you walk—could be used as a diagnostic tool for identifying early dementia, down to the specific type. “By the time a diagnosis of dementia is made, there has already been substantial build-up of pathology in the brain. It is therefore important to identify at-risk individuals early to address modifiable risk factors for dementia prevention, and to start new treatments as they become available,” says Michele Callisaya, PhD, via InSight+. Dr. Callisaya was part of a 2022 study looking into how walking at a slower speed is linked to an increased risk of dementia. Here’s what the experts say.
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Using Data From Aspirin Trials
ShutterstockDr. Callisaya and researchers in Australia and the United States used data from the ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) clinical trial to investigate how gait and dementia might be linked. Almost 17,000 people took part in the study testing the efficacy of low-dose aspirin for dementia prevention, between 2010-2017. “Inclusion criteria were age 70 years or older (or ages 65 and older for US participants belonging to minority groups), free of cardiovascular disease, dementia, or significant physical disability,” Dr. Callisaya says.
Combined Gait and Memory Decline
iStockGait speed in participants was studied every two years, and 178 participants developed dementia over the study period. The results of the study showed a strong link between diminished gait and dementia, especially for “dual decliners”. “Participants with decline in both gait and cognitive function had an increased risk of dementia compared with non-decliners,” Dr. Callisaya says. “The risk of dementia was highest in participants with combined gait and memory decline, and intermediate in those with either gait decline or cognitive decline alone. Using repeated measures over multiple time points (ie tracking decline) was better at risk prediction than measurements taken at a single point in time.”
Early Diagnosis
Shutterstock Knowing gait and dementia are linked could change early diagnosis success. “Usually, only a brief cognitive test is used in the clinic to screen for the risk of dementia and gait is often overlooked,” Dr. Callisaya says. “Gait speed is quick to measure, and only requires a measured distance and a stopwatch, thus attractive for general practice. The measurement of gait speed has long been recommended as a marker of an older person’s overall health.”
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Gait and Alzheimer’s Disease
Shutterstock People with Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy dementia have unique walking patterns, researchers say. “The way we walk can reflect changes in thinking and memory that highlight problems in our brain, such as dementia,” says Dr Ríona McArdle, Post-Doctoral Researcher at Newcastle University's Faculty of Medical Sciences. “Correctly identifying what type of dementia someone has is important for clinicians and researchers as it allows patients to be given the most appropriate treatment for their needs as soon as possible. The results from this study are exciting as they suggest that walking could be a useful tool to add to the diagnostic toolbox for dementia.”
Walking and Dementia Prevention
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One 2022 observational study published in JAMA Neurology shows that walking can help prevent dementia. “Compared with people who didn't walk much at all, people who walked about 9,800 steps per day (about five miles) were 51% less likely to develop dementia. People who walked just 3,800 steps per day (about two miles) were about 25% less likely to develop dementia,” says Harvard Health.
