The cognitive decline and progression of Alzheimer’s can be subtle and gradual, and some signs of early dementia are not even those you would associate with brain health – at least not on the surface. A recent study shows links between two physical changes that may be an early sign of dementia – and not only a sign of aging is not only.
Researchers at the University of Monash in Melbourne, Australia, have linked two very specific changes in physical abilities to a cognitive decline. What are they and should you worry?
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Two physical changes that may be early signs of dementia
According to the University of Monash University Published in Alzheimer’s & DementiaThe combination of slow gait and reduced grip force seems to predict the cognitive decline.
The study followed 18,000 healthy adults aged 70 and more for five years. In the discoveries, the combined poor gait rate and poor adhesion strength were associated with a 79% increase in the risk of dementia and 43% higher risk of cognitive decline. The spank is the highest when the speed of the gait and the gripping force each decreases at the same time, which shows a 55% increased risk of cognitive decline and a huge 89% increased risk of dementia.
Okay, but now what?
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What can mean the study of gait dementia and grip
First, to clarify: if you go more slowly than before, say, injury may not apply to you! This also applies if the grip force is weakened by injury or other medical condition.
“If you notice only a change in gait [speed]Causes can have nothing to do with dementia, ” Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, Doctor of Medicine, Geriatrick and Dementia Expert, said earlier to say ParadeS “It can be associated with certain medicines or a combination of medicines or as a result of a recent, extended hospital stay. Hospital stay of 10 days or longer may lead to a loss of up to 50% muscle mass. The slowest gait rate may be due to other conditions such as arthritis, joint replacements and neurological function.”
The gait and gripping rate study focuses on healthy adults without other problems that would hinder either their ability to walk or grip.
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This said that this development can help with more diagnosis of dementia and cognitive decline.
“Poor physical function can be a marker for a future risk of cognitive decline and dementia, and thus understanding this association can improve early detection and prevention strategies,” a lead author of the study Dr Suzanne Orchard, Bsc., Doctor.A senior research associate at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Monash. “Although there are currently no treatments for dementia, if identified early, treatment strategies can be applied to slow its progression and to manage the symptoms.”
According to Dr. Orchard, testing of patients’ handles and the speed of their gait in regular medical examinations can give doctors a more clear and more advanced picture of their patients from dementia and cognitive impairment. Since knowledge is a force, the more you and your doctor notice the signs of dementia, the earlier you can both take action to slow down its development and take the necessary measures to protect yourself and your loved ones.
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