For years, research has been carried out into how to detect and treat dementia early on. Scientists have now discovered that the risk of developing dementia is linked to slower walking speed.
A recently published study suggests that walking speed in older people can provide information about possible dementia. To this end, researchers conducted a study with 16,855 subjects from Australia and the USA, who were on average 75 years old. The study data was collected between 2010 and 2017.
Dementia can be identified by walking speed
As part of the analysis, the researchers found that a joint or simultaneous decrease in walking speed and cognitive abilities is associated with an increased risk of dementia. The results were published in the specialist journal “JAMA Network”.1 Subjects in whom none or only one of the characteristics worsened are less likely to be affected by dementia.
For this purpose, the scientists collected data as part of the ASPREE study (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly). The subjects were recruited from 2010 to 2014 and the anonymous tests were carried out until 2017. The data was then analyzed between October 2020 and November 2021. At the start of the study, the almost 17,000 test persons demonstrably had no dementia, no cardiovascular diseases, no physical disabilities and a life expectancy of more than five years.
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These test methods were used
During the seven years, the subjects had to carry out various tests. Walking speed was measured at the beginning of the study, in the second, fourth, sixth and last year. The test persons had to walk two short distances of three meters each in the respective years. The average of the two walking results was determined and a walking or speed pattern was created.
Cognitive tests were performed at years 1, 3, 5 and at the end of the study. The methods involved were:
- Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) Test: Screening test for dementia with questions on memory, arithmetic or orientation. (Global cognition)
- Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R): Memory test (memory)
- Symbol Digit Modalities (SDMT): Screening test to detect neurological dysfunction (processing speed)
- Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT-F): Test to check fluency. (speech fluency)
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Two groups are particularly affected
After completing the data analysis, the subjects were divided into four groups.
- 1st group: simultaneous decrease in walking speed and cognitive performance
- 2nd group: stepping backwards only in the gait pattern
- 3rd group: Regression only in cognitive performance
- 4th group: no deterioration in both characteristics
Gait regression was defined as a loss of walking pace of more than 0.5 m/s within one year. In order to determine which of these has the greatest risk of dementia, the “hazard ratio” was also included. This value shows, among other things, how high the mortality rate of one group is compared to another.2 A possible dementia depends not only on the walking speed, but also on specific, cognitive deterioration.
It quickly became clear that the group with deteriorated walking speed and declining memory function (HVLT-R) had a hazard ratio of 24.7. This is followed by the group with a worse gait pattern and weakening global cognition with 22.2. Then come the subjects with poorer gait and declining speech fluency (4.7). The least affected are people with decreasing walking and processing speed with 4.3.
The scientists came to the conclusion that people who walk around five percent slower per year and lose cognitive ability at the same time have an increased risk of developing dementia.