The subtle cues in an individual’s gait could soon be key to diagnosing dementia. A ground-breaking study, led by Newcastle University, sought to refine the current diagnostic techniques for various types of the cognitive condition.
The focus was on differentiating between Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia, and Lewy body dementia (LBD). While Alzheimer’s patients commonly show pronounced memory loss during initial stages, symptoms often overlap with LBD, resulting in misdiagnosis and subsequent mistreatment.
However, in 2019, experts found that analysing patient movements could accurately identify ‘60% of all dementia subtypes’ in a significant first. At the time, Dr Ríona McArdle, lead researcher at Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Sciences, explained: “The way we walk can reflect changes in thinking and memory that highlight problems in our brain, such as dementia.
“Correctly identifying what type of dementia someone has is important for clinicians and researchers as it allows patients to be given the most appropriate treatment for their needs as soon as possible. The results from this study are exciting as they suggest that walking could be a useful tool to add to the diagnostic toolbox for dementia.
“It is a key development as a more accurate diagnosis means that we know that people are getting the right treatment, care and management for the dementia they have.” The study dissected the gaits of 110 individuals, among which were 36 Alzheimer’s patients, 45 with Lewy body dementia (LBD), and 29 without cognitive impairment.
One of its standout findings is that those with LBD modified their walk more frequently and displayed more ‘asymmetric’ movements compared to individuals with Alzheimer’s.
Recent data suggests that over 944,000 people in the UK have dementia, including one in every 11 over 65 years old. LBD is thought to account for just 100,000 of these cases, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Reflecting on these findings, Dr James Pickett, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, also added: “In this well conducted study we can see for the first time that the way we walk may provide clues which could help us distinguish between Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
“This research – funded by the Alzheimer’s Society – is pioneering for dementia. It shows promise in helping to establish a novel approach to accurately diagnose different types of dementia.
“We know that research will beat dementia, and provide invaluable support for the 850,000 people living with the condition in the UK today. It’s now vital that we continue to support promising research of this kind.
“We look forward to seeing larger, longer studies to validate this approach and shed light on the relationship between a person’s gait and dementia diagnosis.”
NHS’ list of potential early stage dementia symptoms
- Sudden changes in personality or mood
- Trouble finding the right words to say and not being able to understand conversations
- Confusion and memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating and planning tasks
NHS guidance adds: “If someone you know is becoming increasingly forgetful, encourage them to see a GP to talk about the early signs of dementia. There are other reasons why someone might be experiencing memory loss.
“However, if dementia is found early, its progress can be slowed down in some cases, so the person may be able to maintain their mental function for longer.”