Researchers at the University of Washington have found that some of the earliest symptoms of dementia including Alzheimer's disease are physical rather than mental. The study showed that adults with a slow gait, weakened hand grip and a failing sense of balance are three times more likely to develop dementia than seniors who do not have these problems.
'In aging, you don't want to separate the physical from the cognitive, because they are inextricably linked,' explained Dr. Eric Larson, the lead researcher of the study. 'And if you can improve one, you're likely to improve the other, and vice versa.'
The results of the study were published in the journal 'Archives of Internal Medicine' and was funded by the National Institute on Aging.
The study followed the health of almost 2,300 Group Health members over the age of 65 for six years. The patients were given a complete physical and mental exam every two years during the study. None of the subjects had dementia at the onset of the study. After six years, 319, or about 14 percent, had dementia, including 221 with Alzheimer's.
The study found that those who walked slowly and had poor balance had an increased likelihood of developing dementia. Those with a weak handgrip were more likely to show mild cognitive problems.
The researchers concluded that exercising the body may be a big help in staving off dementia. 'It's key that you don't assume you get enough exercise through everyday activities,' Larson said. 'You have to really exercise daily, just like you have to brush your teeth daily.'
Additional research in this area may be able to further develop links between dementia and physical breakdowns associated with aging. It is also hoped that by finding such a link, scientists will be able to find ways to prevent dementia or at least delay the onset of the condition.
