Slow walking could be an indicator of dementia

Walking’s good for you, but watch out if you’re a very slow walker: it could be a tell-tale sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s, say researchers.
One in 10 people are very slow walkers, researchers have found, and they are twice as likely as fast walkers to develop dementia within 12 years.
It’s a good, and simple, way to assess your risk for dementia, say researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University.
Walking slowly isn’t a reliable indicator of dementia on its own, say the researchers. People walk slowly for a variety of reasons, such as having arthritis or balance problems, but they become a risk if they also answer a few simple questions about their current cognitive abilities, such as their memory or problem-solving abilities.
Even then, the person may be able to do something about, such as improve diet, stop smoking, or lose weight, all of which can improve blood flow to the brain, and so ward off dementia.
(Source: Neurology, 2014; doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000717)

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