ANALYSING the way people walk could help spot Alzheimer’s, scientists have said.
Most people with the condition are usually only diagnosed once the disease has progressed and is causing short-term memory loss, mood swings or a lack of interest in day-to-day activities.
But a new study has found that forgetting which way you came could be an early sign of Alzheimer's.
People with the disease “overestimated turns” and had a worse sense of direction when trying to retrace their steps during a test.
More than half a million Brits have Alzheimer’s, making it the top cause of dementia and one of the country’s top killers.
But over half of those with the condition are diagnosed late because tests are complex.
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Sian Gregory, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said a walking exam could benefit “hundreds of thousands” of people by spotting it sooner.
She said: “It may offer a way to detect disease-specific brain changes in the early stages of dementia.”
Dementia is a condition that refers to a group of disorders affecting brain functioning – Alzheimer's disease is the most common form.
Early detection of dementia can help people make important decisions for the future and weigh possible treatments options.
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The study, published in Current Biology, compared the navigation skills of 110 people of different ages – 14 of them had Alzheimer’s.
Wearing virtual reality goggles, each person was directed to a certain point and then asked to walk back alone.
The study found that people with early Alzheimer’s consistently had a poorer sense of direction than people without the disease, regardless of their age.
Author Dr Andrea Castegnaro, from University College London, said: “It seems that when you ask people with Alzheimer’s to turn a certain amount, they think they have turned much more than they actually did.”
The research adds to growing evidence suggesting a change in walking habits, such as pace, can indicate cognitive decline.
Dr Andrea added: “We aim to develop practical tests that can be easily integrated into clinical settings, considering common constraints such as limited space and time.”
Two new drugs, named donanemab and lecanemab, have been proven to slow the disease, but neither are available on the NHS yet.
Exercise, socialising, healthy eating and cutting down on booze are known to protect against the disease.
Other signs and symptoms
Dementia affects a person’s mental abilities
This can include:
- increasing difficulties with tasks and activities that require concentration and planning
- depression
- changes in personality and mood
- periods of mental confusion
- difficulty finding the right words
Source: NHS
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