Korin Miller

October 29, 2024 at 12:50 PM

Why Slow Walking Could Be A Dementia Warning Signljubaphoto – Getty Images

Dementia impacts nearly seven million older adults in the U.S. But the devastating condition often progresses slowly, making it difficult to know if a loved one is struggling early on.

However, recent research suggests that something as simple as your walking speed could indicate if you have dementia. Here’s what the study found, plus what it means for treatment going forward.

Meet the experts: Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. Albert Matheny, RD, CSCS, a co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab.

What did the study find?

For the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, researchers analyzed data from nearly 17,000 adults over the age of 65 over seven years. Every other year, the participants took cognitive tests measuring their cognitive decline, memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency. The participants were also asked twice every other year to walk about 10 feet to determine their gait.

The researchers discovered that people who walked at a slower pace and showed signs of slower mental processing were most likely to develop dementia.

Who is at the highest risk of developing dementia?

The researchers found that people with the highest risk of developing dementia were so-called “dual decliners,” a.k.a. people who showed signs of cognitive decline over time and walked less quickly (over five percent more slowly each year).

“These results highlight the importance of gait in dementia risk assessment and suggest that dual decline in gait speed and a memory measure may be the best combination to assess future dementia,” they wrote.

Why could a slower walking speed indicate dementia?

The exact mechanism isn’t entirely clear. However, there is a link between slower walking speed and a decline in health, says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. “Slower walking speed is an important metric for overall health, and overall health predicts brain health,” he says.

“It does not matter why the walk has slowed. It almost always implies a decline in overall wellness is coming,” he adds.

What are the takeaways from this study?

It’s important to point out that the study didn’t find that having dementia caused people to walk more slowly, or that walking more slowly caused someone to develop dementia. Instead, it found a link.

The findings also don’t suggest that picking up the pace when you walk will lower your risk of dementia—rather, it suggests that walking slowly may be one of several signs that someone is developing dementia.

So, if you find that your grandparent is showing some signs of cognitive decline and they’re struggling to keep up on walks, this may be something to explore.

What are other early signs of dementia?

There are a few early signs of dementia to have on your radar. These are the biggest ones, according to the Alzheimer’s Association:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Trouble planning or solving problems
• Trouble finishing familiar tasks
• Getting confused with time and place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and struggling to retrace steps
• Having decreased or poor judgement
• Withdrawing from work and social activities
• Changes in mood and personality

How can I improve my walking speed?

If you or a loved one is struggling with cognitive decline, increasing your walking speed is unlikely to change that. However, you can try to build up your endurance by walking more regularly, says Albert Matheny, RD, CSCS, a co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab.

Once you get comfortable going a certain distance, you can try to push the pace, he says.