The Caring Corner®

Elderly With Slow Gait In Their Walk Could Be At Risk For Alzheimer’s Disease

January 6, 2016

A recent study of elderly patients at the University Hospital of Toulouse found that elderly people who are slow while walking could be undergoing the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. The participants that shuffled slowly had greater deposits of amyloid in the brain, especially in the putamen region which controls motor function skills. The average age of the participants was 76 and they were at high risk for dementia and memory problems. Each participant had a brain scan that revealed many of those with difficulty walking had thick deposits of amyloid plaques in their brains. The protein is linked to Alzheimer’s and the scans indicated 48% of the participants had it. When tested for thinking and memory skills, 46% displayed mild cognitive problems. Many of the results were consistent even with factors like age, memory and education. The researchers are confident that there may be a link even though there is no cause and effect relationship.

 

 

Acorn provides screened and vetted in home care givers.

Our clients have dementia, Alzheimer’s, ALS and other similar conditions.

Call us if you have any questions.

We serve Chapel Hill, Carrboro and other nearby locations.

Filed in: News

What's On Your Mind?

Trackback URL | RSS Feed for This Entry