“Senior speed” a warning sign of a DEADLY disease?

It’s a harsh fact of life…

Nobody – and I mean NOBODY – moves like they used to!

Because the OLDER you get… you’re inevitably going to move a little SLOWER.

If even you’re not hopping out of a chair in the blink of an eye… or walking around the neighborhood at a lightning-speed pace…

Chances are there’s NOTHING WRONG WITH IT!

BUT if you or a loved one is REALLY slowing down…

New research suggests it COULD be a warning sign of a deadly disease down the road.

Thankfully, there’s a way to combat it… even if you’re moving at “senior speed.”

An Australian research study has found that physical setbacks later in life – like difficulty getting up, walking, and sitting down – could be linked to DEMENTIA.

The study – which examined more than 1,000 women over age 75 — measured their physical prowess with a timed-up-and-go (TUG) test, which looked at the following benchmarks:

• Grip strength
• The time it took for them to rise from a chair
• Walk three meters
• Turn around
• Sit back down

Five years later, they RE-EXAMINED the study participants to verify if any of the benchmarks decreased.

They found that LOWER grip strength and SLOWER TUG both appeared to be significant dementia risk factors – regardless of genetic risk and even lifestyle factors (like smoking, alcohol intake, and exercise habits).

In fact, the study determined that close to 17% of the women included in the study experienced a “dementia event,” which is categorized as either a dementia-related hospitalization or death.

A couple of notes…

First, frailty has been linked to dementia… but it doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily on the fast track to the disease.

Second, this study was done with women – but, there’s no reason why older men shouldn’t also be mindful of declining physical performance.

Finally, even if you’re losing some strength and/or stamina, staying active and moving is one of the best preventions against dementia.

Daily walks – no matter what the “pace” – are a great way to stay active, while stimulating your mind.

If you’re starting to notice a significant decline in your mobility, strength, or stamina, talk to your doctor about the best approach to stay active.

To the power of movement,

Sarah Reagan

PS – Check out this afternoon’s eAlert for more sobering news on dementia, along with additional ways to protect yourself.

Sources:

Anderer, John. “Slowing down physically may be a dementia warning sign.” https://studyfinds.org/slowing-down-dementia-sign/

BMJ Journals. “Frailty, lifestyle, genetics and dementia risk.” https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/93/4/343