Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia occur in older adults and cause memory loss, confusion and eventually death. Approximately 4.5 million people now have Alzheimer's disease and the number is expected to rise to about 16 million people by 2050. Now research reports that poor physical function, such as walking and balancing problems, may be an early warning sign of increased risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.
The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, investigated whether physical function is associated with dementia and Alzheimer disease. Researchers at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Washington, kept track of 2,288 seniors aged 65 and older with no signs of dementia at the beginning of the study, from 1994 to 1996. The participants were followed-up every six years. Cognitive abilities and physical function tests were obtained from the participants.
Researchers found that 319 participants developed dementia, including 221 participants who developed Alzheimer's. Participants with lower physical-function scores were three times more likely to develop dementia than those with higher scores. Findings also revealed that balance and walking problems were the first physical indicators of a risk for dementia in participants without cognitive impairment. Furthermore, a weak handgrip in participants with mild cognitive impairment was a physical indicator that they would progress to dementia.
The study authors recommend that seniors participate in a regular physical exercise program, such as walking daily, to decrease the rate of dementia. "Lower levels of physical performance were associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease," the study authors write. "The study suggests that poor physical function may precede the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease and higher levels of physical function may be associated with a delayed onset."
REFERENCES:
1. Wang L et al. Performance-based physical function and future dementia in older people. Arch Intern Med 2006 May 22;166(10):1115-20.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on August 22, 2006 02:06 PM
