The way in which we walk might hold the key to diagnosing Alzheimer’s, or other types of dementia. Ground-breaking research from Newcastle University previously honed in on how we move around as a potential indicator of cognitive decline.
Their work aimed to enhance the identification process of various forms of dementia, specifically by distinguishing Alzheimer’s disease from Lewy body dementia (LBD), conditions that often share similar early symptoms but may require different treatments. In 2019, the experts discovered that movement analysis could pinpoint ‘60% of all dementia subtypes’ – something completely unheard of before.
At the time, Dr Ríona McArdle, lead researcher at Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Sciences, explained: “The way we walk can reflect changes in thinking and memory that highlight problems in our brain, such as dementia.
“Correctly identifying what type of dementia someone has is important for clinicians and researchers as it allows patients to be given the most appropriate treatment for their needs as soon as possible. The results from this study are exciting as they suggest that walking could be a useful tool to add to the diagnostic toolbox for dementia.
“It is a key development as a more accurate diagnosis means that we know that people are getting the right treatment, care and management for the dementia they have.” Among the study’s most significant findings was that patients with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) altered their walking steps more and exhibited ‘asymmetric’ movements, unlike those with Alzheimer’s.
Current estimates suggest that more than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia, including one in every 11 over 65 years old. LBD is thought to account for just 100,000 of these cases, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Amidst these findings, Dr James Pickett, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, also previously added: “In this well conducted study we can see for the first time that the way we walk may provide clues which could help us distinguish between Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
“This research – funded by the Alzheimer’s Society – is pioneering for dementia. It shows promise in helping to establish a novel approach to accurately diagnose different types of dementia.
“We know that research will beat dementia, and provide invaluable support for the 850,000 people living with the condition in the UK today. It’s now vital that we continue to support promising research of this kind.
“We look forward to seeing larger, longer studies to validate this approach and shed light on the relationship between a person’s gait and dementia diagnosis.”
NHS’ list of potential early stage dementia symptoms
- Difficulty concentrating and planning tasks
- Sudden changes in personality or mood
- Confusion and memory loss
- Trouble finding the right words to say and not being able to understand conversations
The health body adds: “If someone you know is becoming increasingly forgetful, encourage them to see a GP to talk about the early signs of dementia. There are other reasons why someone might be experiencing memory loss.
“However, if dementia is found early, its progress can be slowed down in some cases, so the person may be able to maintain their mental function for longer.”