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.
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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.
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A new report by the American Heart Association (AHA) included some troubling predictions for the future of women’s health.
The forecast, published in the journal Circulation on Wednesday, projected increases in various comorbidities in American females by 2050.
More than 59% of women were predicted to have high blood pressure, up from less than 49% currently.
The review also projected that more than 25% of women will have diabetes, compared to about 15% today, and more than 61% will have obesity, compared to 44% currently.
As a result of these risk factors, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7%.
The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in women is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7% by 2050. (iStock)
Not all trends were negative, as unhealthy cholesterol prevalence is expected to drop to about 22% from more than 42% today, the report stated.
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Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a cardiologist and founder of Step One Foods in Minnesota, commented on these “jarring findings.”
“The fact that on our current trajectory, cardiometabolic disease is projected to explode in women within one generation should be a huge wake-up call,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Hypertension, diabetes, obesity — these are all major risk factors for heart disease, and we are already seeing what those risks are driving. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, eclipsing all other causes of death, including breast cancer.”
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and around the world. (iStock)
Klodas warned that heart disease starts early, progresses “stealthily,” and can present “out of the blue in devastating ways.”
The AHA published another study on Thursday revealing one million hospitalizations, showing that heart attack deaths are climbing among adults below the age of 55.
The more alarming finding, according to Klodas, is that young women were found more likely to die after their first heart attack than men of the same age.
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“This is all especially tragic since heart disease is almost entirely preventable,” she said. “The earlier you start, the better.”
Children can show early evidence of plaque deposition in their arteries, which can be reversed through lifestyle changes if “undertaken early enough and aggressively enough,” according to the expert.
Moving more is one part of protecting a healthy heart, according to experts. (iStock)
Klodas suggested that rising heart conditions are associated with traditional risk factors, like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
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Doctors are also seeing higher rates of preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, as well as gestational diabetes. Klodas noted that these are sex-specific risk factors that don’t typically contribute to complications until after menopause.
The best way to protect a healthy heart is to “do the basics,” Klodas recommended, including the following lifestyle habits.
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Klodas especially emphasized making improvements to diet, as the food people eat affects “every single risk factor that the AHA’s report highlights.”
“High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, excess weight – these are all conditions that are driven in part or in whole by food,” she said. “We eat multiple times every single day, which means what we eat has profound cumulative effects over time.”
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health.”
The doctor also recommends changing out a few snacks per day for healthier choices, which has been proven to “yield medication-level cholesterol reductions” in a month.
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“Keep up that small change and, over the course of a year, you could also lose 20 pounds and reduce your sodium intake enough to avoid blood pressure-lowering medications,” Klodas added.
“Women should not view the AHA report as inevitable. We have power over our health destinies. We just need to use it.”
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Nearsightedness (myopia) is skyrocketing globally, with nearly half of the world’s population expected to be myopic by 2050, according to the World Health Organization.
Heavy use of smartphones and other devices is associated with an 80% higher risk of myopia when combined with excessive computer use, but a new study suggests that dim indoor lighting could also be a factor.
For years, scientists have been puzzled by the different ways myopia is triggered. In lab settings, it can be induced by blurring vision or using different lenses. Conversely, it can be slowed by something as simple as spending time outdoors, research suggests.
Nearsightedness occurs when the eyeball grows too long from front to back, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). This physical elongation causes light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it, making distant objects appear blurry.
The study suggests that myopia isn’t caused by the digital devices themselves, but by the low-light environments where they are typically used. (iStock)
Researchers at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry identified a potential specific trigger for this growth. When someone looks at a phone or a book up close, the pupil naturally constricts.
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“In bright outdoor light, the pupil constricts to protect the eye while still allowing ample light to reach the retina,” Urusha Maharjan, a SUNY Optometry doctoral student who conducted the study, said in a press release.
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“When people focus on close objects indoors, such as phones, tablets or books, the pupil can also constrict — not because of brightness, but to sharpen the image,” she went on. “In dim lighting, this combination may significantly reduce retinal illumination.”
High-intensity natural light prevents myopia because it provides enough retinal stimulation to override the “stop growing” signal, even when pupils are constricted. (iStock)
The hypothesis suggests that when the retina is deprived of light during extended close-up work, it sends a signal for the eye to grow.
In a dim environment, the narrowed pupil allows so little light through that the retinal activity isn’t strong enough to signal the eye to stop growing, the researchers found.
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In contrast, being outdoors provides light levels much brighter than indoors. This ensures that even when the pupil narrows to focus on a nearby object, the retina still receives a strong signal, maintaining healthy eye development.
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The team noted some limitations of the study, including the small subject group and the inability to directly measure internal lens changes, as the bright backgrounds used to mimic the outdoors made pupils too small for standard equipment.
Researchers believe that increasing indoor brightness during close-up work could be a simple, testable way to slow the global nearsightedness epidemic. (iStock)
“This is not a final answer,” Jose-Manuel Alonso, MD, PhD, SUNY distinguished professor and senior author of the study, said in the release.
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“But the study offers a testable hypothesis that reframes how visual habits, lighting and eye focusing interact.”
The study was published in the journal Cell Reports.
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