Warning sign of dementia could appear when you walk, study says

The way you move could also be an indicator for dementia, experts have said. According to a study, which was published in , walking more slowly in old age could be a warning sign for the syndrome.

Dementia is a condition linked to the ongoing decline of the brain. Therefore, many of us are aware of certain symptoms such as memory loss, behavioural changes and difficulty talking.

But this research, carried out by the University of Minnesota and Monash University, showed that the ability to walk could also become more difficult as the brain declines. The researchers monitored 17,000 adults over the age of 75.

It concluded that those who lost 0.05 metres per second from their pace every year had signs of mental decline. As a result, the researchers said this could be due to a link between brain decline affecting the areas involved in controlling walking and pace.

The participants were followed over a seven-year period, with walking speeds and cognition tested every other year. Those who were declining in both cognition and walking speed were found to be at a higher risk of dementia.

This group of people were dubbed "dual decliners" and saw about 178 cases of the condition detected, which is 11.3 per cent of the total number of participants in the study.

Those who showed no decline in cognition or walking were least likely to have the disease, with just 0.3 per cent diagnosed.

However, the study did not find a more general link between walking speed and dementia risk. Researchers said those who slowed down but did not already show signs of cognitive decline were at a similar risk to those whose walking speed remained the same.

Study lead Dr Taya Collyer, a biostatician from Monash University, concluded: "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 said: "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."

The lists early “common” symptoms of dementia as:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
• Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
• Being confused about time and place
• Mood changes.

If you or someone you know experiences symptoms you should speak to a doctor.