Why walking slowly could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists could use walking speed, alongside memory tests, to assess a person’s risk of developing dementia.

A slow walking speed may be an early indication of Alzheimer’s disease and might in future be used alongside memory tests and other diagnostic criteria to assess a person’s risk of developing dementia, scientists said.

A study has found a link between the typical walking speed of elderly people and the amount of protein build-up in the brain that is associated with the early signs of dementia.

Scientists said walking speed could be used to help to diagnose Alzheimer’s as slower speeds may be related to the changes in the brain that take place before the onset of the disease.

“It’s possible that having subtle walking disturbances in addition to memory concerns may signal Alzheimer’s disease, even before people show any clinical symptoms,” said Natalia del Campo of the University Hospital Toulouse in France, who led the research.

The study, published in the online journal Neurology, analysed the brain of 128 people with an average age of 76 who did not have dementia, but had symptoms of memory impairment. Medical scans analysed the levels of amyloid protein, a precursor of Alzheimer’s, which were significantly correlated with average walking speed.

Laura Phipps from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “There can be many reasons for someone’s walking speed to slow, but it’s important to explore why and when these changes occur in diseases like Alzheimer’s and how they can be managed to improve the lives of those affected.”

Louise Walker of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Research has already shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulties with walking - but it is unclear if this is due to the condition itself or other factors, especially those associated with ageing. More long-term research is needed to determine whether a build-up of the protein amyloid, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, directly leads to slower walking and whether this could form a suitable part of a clinician’s diagnostic process.”

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My walking speed slowed a lot, but as a direct result of the hyperthyroid shooting my BP up and damaging the circulation in my legs. I'm a bit better now but unlikely ever to return to walking at the speeds I used to. Of course the circulation may also be affecting my brain and causing alzheimers but how could I tell? <G>

I suspect walking slowly is a function of getting older as much as any direct causes. CVD, Peripheral Arterial Disease, muscle wasting, diabetic neuropathy etc. etc. Even balance problems which may result from hyperinsulinemia, all these and more may affect walking speed and also make alzheimers more likely.

This remins me a bit of the old joke

"When she was 60 my mother started walking a mile a day. Now she's 85 and we don't know where the hell she is!"

For many families those last words unfortunately become so true, and it is so sad and very distressing to see a much loved with this condition.

Alzheimer's to me is one of the most cruel-lest diseases ...

Possibly by reducing the highly processed sugars / carbs it may just help to keep this disease at bay ?

I believe many do term Alzheimer's as Type 3 Diabetes.

Yes it's yet another "disease of civilisation" which has "mysteriously" become a lot more common since low fat diets were invented.

A neighbour's husband had Alzheimers and had to go into a home where they kept him alive for years, draining his wife of all her money. They even "saved" him from pneumonia and a stroke to keep the money rolling in. He never even knew she was visiting him daily.

Another neighbour also had to go into a home in her early seventies. She used to be a rally driver and towards the end she couldn't even find her own house. Horrible!