Health
Dementia risk could be linked to walking speed, study suggests
A slower walking pace could be a sign of cognitive decline or dementia, a new study suggests.
Researchers assessed more than 16,800 healthy people over the age of 65 in the U.S. and Australia during a seven-year period (2010 to 2017), according to the published study in JAMA Network Open.
The investigators measured participants’ walking speed and performed cognitive tests every two years.
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Those who demonstrated a decrease in walking speed by at least 2 inches per second a year — along with slower cognitive ability — had a higher risk of dementia, as compared to individuals considered to be “non-decliners, cognitive-only decliners or gait-only decliners,” according to the report.
A slower walking pace could be a sign of cognitive decline or dementia, a new study suggests. (iStock)
“The combination of declining memory and slowing gait seems to be a stronger indicator of future dementia risk than decline in one of those things alone,” Dr. Taya A. Collyer, PhD, who led the study out of Monash University in Australia, told Fox News Digital.
Family members often comment that their loved one had changed prior to a dementia diagnosis, according to Dr. Amy Brodtmann, a neurologist and professor of the Cognitive Health Initiative at Monash University in Australia.
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“There has long been an assumption that a slowdown – of walking, thinking and actions – is a sign not just of aging, but of developing cognitive impairment and dementia,” she told Fox News Digital.
‘Simple to measure’
The researchers suggested that measurement of walking speeds could be a useful tool – combined with other screening measures – to help identify individuals who are at risk of developing dementia and ensure that they receive early testing and preventive interventions.
“We don’t yet have a definitive test for dementia that family doctors can do in their own clinics,” noted Brodtmann, one of the co-authors of the study.
People who have challenges with balance and mobility may consider using an assistive device to ensure safe and consistent walking. (iStock)
Walking speed is very “simple to measure,” Collyer added.
“Our study also suggests that family doctors might keep an eye on walking speed when they (or their patients) have concerns about dementia,” she said.
DEMENTIA RISK COULD BE HIGHER FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF INJURY, STUDY FINDS
The manner in which a person walks, also known as the gait pattern, could help signal a potential issue, according to Edward Farrell, a physical therapist and certified strength specialist at Physical Solutions Physical Therapy and Fitness on Long Island, New York.
“Our gait pattern and speed requires reflexive planning, adjustments to surfaces, and focus and attention, which are often impaired with cognitive diseases,” Farrell, who was not involved with the study, told Fox News Digital.
Other risk factors
Courtney Kloske, PhD, director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, Illinois, noted the importance of exploring other factors that may impact risk in diverse populations.
These risk factors include genetics, health conditions such as hypertension, health-related behaviors like physical activity and diet, and environmental elements, such as air pollution.
“Up to 45% of dementia cases could be delayed or prevented by adopting healthy lifestyle factors.”
“While not all factors are modifiable, research shows that up to 45% of dementia cases could be delayed or prevented by adopting healthy lifestyle factors,” Kloske, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital, citing the 2024 Lancet Commission, a collaborative report from leading dementia experts.
The manner in which a person walks, also known as the gait pattern, could help signal a potential issue, according to experts. (iStock)
The study highlights the benefits of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors early and consistently, including helping to prevent or postpone the onset of cognitive decline, according to Kloske.
She recommends adhering to a healthy diet, maintaining a regular exercise routine, controlling diabetes and blood pressure, and staying socially engaged.
Step into health
Working to improve one’s walking stride is also important for overall health, according to Farrell.
“The ability to maintain a more normal gait stimulates our systems, allowing greater mobility, more independence and reduced fall risk,” he told Fox News Digital.
Farrell recommends taking frequent walks at various paces, with intervals of moderate to faster speeds, to improve reflexes. Certain exercises also support walking speed and pattern, he noted.
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“Regular strength training like squats, step-ups, bridges and leg lifts can keep our foundational muscles strong as we age,” he advised.
“Stretching to keep hamstrings, hip flexors and calf muscles limber allows for more free mobility to walk.”
“Regular strength training … can keep our foundational muscles strong as we age,” an expert advised. (iStock)
Performing balance exercises like heel-toe walking, single leg stance drills and Tai chi can also improve stability and confidence with walking, Farrell noted.
For those who plan to start a walking program, it’s best to wear supportive sneakers that provide a stable base and cushioned comfort, the expert added.
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People who have challenges with balance and mobility may consider using an assistive device like a cane to ensure safe and consistent walking.
It is important to consult with a health care provider prior to starting a exercise regimen, experts agree.
The first medication for obstructive sleep apnea has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On Dec. 20, the FDA announced that the agency has approved Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity.
The drug is to be paired with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, the FDA noted.
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Sally Seymour, M.D., director of the Division of Pulmonology, Allergy and Critical Care in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in Washington, D.C., applauded the approval in an announcement.
Happy and healthy senior man sleeping deeply on his left side without snoring (iStock)
“Today’s approval marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” Seymour wrote. “This is a major step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.”
OSA occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked and causes pauses in breathing during sleep, according to the FDA. The condition is more common in people who are overweight or obese.
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Similar to semaglutide treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy, Zepbound activates receptors of hormones secreted from the intestine (GLP-1 and GIP) to reduce appetite and food intake.
About 30 million people suffer from sleep apnea in the U.S.
Studies show that by reducing body weight, Zepbound “also improves OSA,” the FDA noted.
In a 52-week study, participants treated with Zepbound experienced “statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in events of apnea or hypopnea,” and a large share of participants achieved remission or “resolution of symptoms.”
Zepbound improves obstructive sleep apnea by reducing body weight, studies show. (iStock)
Zepbound-treated patients also reported a significant decrease in body weight, the FDA mentioned.
The drug can reportedly cause side effects like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach discomfort and pain, injection site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions (typically fever and rash), burping, hair loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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While Zepbound causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats, it’s unknown whether it causes these tumors in humans, so it should not be used by patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, per the FDA.
The agency encourages all OSA patients to consult with a doctor before taking Zepbound and to monitor for any complications.
One sleep expert called the FDA’s approval a “promising advancement for the millions of people who suffer from this condition.” (iStock)
Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, who is a RAND Corporation senior behavioral specialist and licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, called the FDA’s approval a “promising advancement for the millions of people who suffer from this condition.”
“Zepbound promotes weight loss and has been shown to reduce apnea events.”
About 30 million people suffer from sleep apnea in the U.S., Troxel told Fox News Digital.
While the most common treatment for sleep apnea — positive airway pressure (PAP) — is “highly effective” at treating the condition, up to 50% of patients are “non-adherent,” she said.
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“Zepbound promotes weight loss and has been shown to reduce apnea events,” Troxel noted.
“For obese individuals with moderate to severe sleep apnea, this new treatment option may offer an important alternative or adjunctive treatment, particularly for those who struggle with sleep apnea therapies, such as positive airway pressure.”
People with a history of severe allergic reaction to tirzepatide should not use Zepbound, the FDA warned in a news release. (iStock)
Troxel added that treating sleep apnea is “critical not only for the patient’s health and well-being, but also for their bed partners, who are often the ‘hidden casualties’ of untreated sleep apnea, given that loud snoring and gasping for air are primary symptoms,” she said.
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Dr. William Lu, medical director of Dreem Health in San Francisco, told Fox News Digital that obesity and sleep apnea are “two of the most prevalent health conditions that affect Americans today.”
“We still need to emphasize shifting the diet and health habits of many, but this is a fantastic start.”
“And they go hand in hand,” he said. “For the patients who qualify and have no contraindications, tirzepatide has the opportunity to be a generational medication that can help people lose weight, reduce the severity of sleep apnea and improve overall health.”
“We still need to emphasize shifting the diet and health habits of many, but this is a fantastic start.”
Getting tested for sleep apnea is “critical for your health,” Lu said, and could also be a requirement for getting coverage for the medication.
Fox News Digital reached out to Eli Lilly requesting comment.
Renowned visionary English physician William Harvey wrote in 1651 about how our blood contains all the secrets of life.
“And so I conclude that blood lives and is nourished of itself and in no way depends on any other part of the body as being prior to it or more excellent,” he wrote. “So that from this we may perceive the causes not only of life in general … but also of longer or shorter life, of sleeping and waking, of skill, of strength and so forth.”
Dr. Kevin Watt, team leader of the Heart Regeneration and Disease Laboratory at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne, Australia, understands this concept deeply.
STEM CELL RESEARCH SHOWING NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR TREATING INFANT HEART DISEASE
He lives it every day, as he and his fellow researchers study and reprogram the potential of the blood to treat disease, specifically heart failure in children.
Building on the work of Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Japan, who discovered that specialized cells could be reprogrammed back to immature stem cells, Watt and his collaborators have taken this work several steps further.
During upcoming clinical trials, “large sheets of heart tissue will be stitched into the failing heart,” said Dr. Kevin Watt, team leader of the Heart Regeneration and Disease Laboratory at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne, Australia. (MCRI)
They have used small molecules to turn these new stem cells from the blood into heart cells.
Small heart organoids are developed in the lab — which can then be injected into the failing hearts of children.
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Relying on the philanthropic support of the Murdoch Institute, the work is progressing rapidly and has been shown to be effective already in mice, pigs and sheep.
“The vision of our research is to develop new therapies that can transform the lives of children with heart failure.”
Clinical trials in humans will be starting soon, and as Dr. Watt told me in an interview from Australia, “Large sheets of heart tissue will be stitched into the failing heart.”
Congenital heart failure as well as side effects of chemotherapy in children will be targets for this miracle therapy. Millions of children around the world suffer daily from these conditions.
Researchers at MCRI are studying and reprogramming the potential of the blood to treat disease, specifically heart failure in children. (MCRI)
Watt said that certain chemotherapy (anthracyclines) have a higher risk of heart failure – up to 15% of the time – and this treatment may be useful to protect the heart.
Watt said, “Heart failure remains an urgent, unmet clinical challenge across the world. While we have made significant advances over several decades in managing the disease, we lack targeted therapies to treat these devastating conditions.”
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He added, “More than 500,000 children around the world live with advanced heart failure that requires transplantation. The vision of our research is to develop new therapies that can transform the lives of children with heart failure.”
“More than 500,000 children around the world live with advanced heart failure that requires transplantation. The vision of our research is to develop new therapies that can transform the lives of children with heart failure.” (iStock)
To achieve this, he said, “we use a technology called induced pluripotent stem cells, where we can convert blood or skin cells of patients with heart failure into stem cells that we then turn into heart cells … or even make engineered heart tissues that can be stitched onto the patient’s heart to help it pump.”
The cells that are targeted in the blood are known as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
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They are “pushed back in time to an earlier time before they became differentiated into heart or kidney cells,” he said.
Then they can be pushed forward to become healthy heart cells or mutations — or other abnormalities can be corrected.
While the team at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is making heart cells from stem cells in the blood for clinical use, it’s also using these stem cells to figure out new drugs to treat heart failure directly.
The team at MCRI in Melbourne (shown above) is pioneering “methods to turn stem cells into miniature heart tissues.” (MCRI)
Said Watt, “Using stem cells from patients with heart failure caused by chemo, we are actively developing new drugs and cell-based treatments that we believe will transform the lives of patients with these conditions … Our research group has pioneered methods to turn these stem cells into miniature heart tissues that can be used to model disease-in-a-dish, to identify new drug targets for the development of new therapies.”
These treatments are personalized and highly expensive, but they’re also highly effective.
“Using stem cells from patients with heart failure caused by chemo, we are actively developing new drugs and cell-based treatments that we believe will transform the lives of patients with these conditions.” (MCRI)
Correcting heart failure in young children is only a few years away from becoming a reality.
It’s a Christmas miracle that relies on the kind of philanthropic support that MCRI is famous for arranging.
“Philanthropic support plays a critical role in accelerating the development of these new, transformative treatments,” said Watt, “and this support will be essential as we work toward bringing stem cell-based precision therapies for heart failure to every child who needs it.”
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Visit go.fox/MCRI to donate or to learn more about MCRI’s important research.
The first human case of H5N1, more commonly known as avian influenza or bird flu, has been confirmed in Los Angeles County in California, in connection with an adult who was exposed to livestock.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said the person who contracted bird flu had mild symptoms, was treated with antivirals and is now recovering at home.
While this is the first human case in the county, the public health department said the overall risk of H5 bird flu to the public remains low, adding that there is currently no evidence of person-to-person spread of the virus.
Still, those who are in close contact with the infected person, as well as other workers at the worksite, are being monitored for symptoms and have been offered testing, antiviral prophylaxis and personal protective equipment.
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The CDC said on Wednesday a patient has been hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1 infection in Louisiana. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)
The case is part of an ongoing investigation which involves the county public health department, the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact with infected livestock or wildlife have a greater risk of infection. This case reminds us to take basic precautions to prevent being exposed,” LA County health officer Muntu Davis said. “People should avoid unprotected contact with sick or dead animals including cows, poultry, and wild birds; avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products, such as raw milk; and protect pets and backyard poultry from exposure to wild animals.”
Davis also encouraged the public to get the seasonal flu vaccine, which he said can help prevent severe seasonal flu illness and lower the risk of getting seasonal and bird flu infections at the same time if exposed.
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Colorized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses (seen in gold) grown in MDCK cells (seen in green). (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Bird flu symptoms in humans include eye redness or discharge, fever, cough or difficulty breathing, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea and vomiting.
The news comes just days after California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to bird flu.
Newsom issued the state of emergency after an outbreak of the virus occurred among dairy cows in Southern California farms.
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At least two farm workers have been infected with H5N1 bird flu this year. (iStock)
After initially being reported in Texas and Kansas in March, bird flu has been confirmed in cattle across 16 U.S. states, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement.
Also, last week, the first case of severe bird flu was confirmed in a human patient in Louisiana, according to the CDC.
The health agency maintains that “the current public health risk is low,” but said it is “watching the situation carefully.”
Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.
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