A research team based in Seattle has discovered that a person’s physical fitness can reveal much about their mental health status in the future.
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Alzheimer’s Disease – Memory Loss |
They noted a simple method to determine whether someone is at risk of memory loss or developing Alzheimer’s disease in old age: measuring walking time, assessing grip strength, and evaluating balance while standing still.
The research team led by Dr. Eric Larson, director of the Group Health Research Center, studied 2,288 individuals aged 65 and older. Each participant was assessed three times, with intervals of two years between evaluations.
When the study began in 1994, none of the participants exhibited signs of memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease. Six years later, 319 individuals developed memory loss, with 221 of them diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
“We were surprised to find that physical changes might precede cognitive changes,” Larson stated.
According to the research team, the first indicators of memory loss appear to be issues with walking and balance. A weak grip may be the next sign of this risk in older adults.
In a previous report, this same research team found that individuals who exercise regularly are less likely to develop memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease.
The new study proposed a viable solution: that regular exercise could help prevent memory loss by improving and maintaining physical fitness.
T. An
