According To Research, Early Dementia Can Be Detected By Street Crossing The Slope

Illustration of early detection of dementia by walking across the winding path (Freepic)

YOGYAKARTA Dementia can be detected early with cognitive levels. If cognitive levels decrease, a person will find it difficult to walk across winding paths, according to research. The way a person walks, has been tested in a number of studies and is associated with dementia at an older age.

In a recent study published in early March 2024, researchers asked participants to walk along curved paths. This is used to detect mild cognitive disturbances because walking on a curved path requires greater coordination and motor skills.

"By showing walking around the corner as a diagnostic tool, your research shows a non-invasive and cost-effective method that can be included in clinical practice," explained the senior author in the study reported by Everyday Health, Sunday, March 24, Behnaz Ghoraani, Ph.D.

Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Florida Atlantic University College, said the main value of this test is cognitive assessment and early intervention for mild cognitive impairment. Light cognitive impairment is an early stage of memory loss or loss of other cognitive capabilities. Such as visual, spatial, and language perception capabilities.

Mild cognitive disorder (MCI) can be a transition stage between normal memory changes related to Alzheimer's age and disease. Many people with MCI but not all develop Alzheimer's or other types of dementia. However, early intervention is very important because it can slow down the development of dementia and improve the patient's quality of life.

The research conducted by professors Ghoraani and the team explored how to walk on a curved path compared to walking on a straight track describing cognitive capabilities, more complex coordination, and adjusting balance. This research involved 30 healthy people and 25 with mild cognitive impairment. The average age of 69-year-old test participants.

The analytical results are obtained by comparing 50 markers of the walking style for each test between the two groups. Overall, 31 of the 50 markers of the walking style (62 percent) are larger in clusters with mild cognitive perturbations (MCI) compared to elderly adults who are in good health control when the test is changed from a straight walk to a curved walk, and 13 markers show significant differences between the two research groups.

These findings highlight that individuals with MCI show significantly decreased step length and speed during the walk at the bend. The MCI group also shows reduced symmetry and regularity at step length and speed to convex walk. They also require longer multiple support times in various areas, especially when changing direction, resulting in reduced step speed.

"It is very interesting to observe how curved it is, which demands greater cognitive and motor coordination, can serve as a valuable indicator of the initial step of cognitive decline. This shows that the integration of simple but challenging style tasks into routine assessments to identify individuals who are at risk of dementia," said Ghoraani.

According to Dr. Ozama Ismail, Ph.D., program director of the Alzheimer's Association who was not involved in this study, it was very encouraging to find a method of early dementia identification by means of a curved path test although it still requires validation in a larger population.

In addition to being economical, intensive tests using brain PET scans at the early stages may be the most appropriate way. But for advanced imaging tests, there are still obstacles. The findings in this study also add some important information regarding changes in the walking style in a person with mild cognitive impairment.