(ISCIENCETIMES) — The way you walk could be a hint as to whether you will develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease, according to three new studies, presented at the annual meeting of the Alzheimer's Association in Vancouver. Researchers found that changes in walking patterns could be an early warning that cognitive decline is underway.
In one four-year study, researchers followed more than 1,200 elderly patients who went to a memory clinic and compared their walking speed to that of a mentally healthy person. They found that a slowing of walking pace and a change in gait was linked to mental decline, whether it was mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease.
