Dementia 'red flag' warning sign seen in the legs that shouldn't be ignored

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Dementia affects more than 900,000 people in the UK and sufferers may exhibit a warning sign that impacts their walking.Some of the brain disorder's debilitating symptoms include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, poor judgement and it can even impact muscle function.

While dementia has no cure, an early diagnosis can help sufferers manage the condition's effects.Therefore, it is important to be aware of warning signs and a study suggests that walking slower in old age could be a dementia red flag.

Findings published in JAMA Network Open, suggests brain decline may impede a person's ability to walk.The study, carried out by the University of Minnesota and Monash University, examined 17,000 participants aged over 75, monitoring their walking speeds and cognitive function over a seven year period.

Researchers found that those who lost 0.05 meters per second from their pace every year had signs of mental decline. Researchers said this could be due to a link between brain decline affecting the areas involved in controlling walking and pace.