[ad_1]
Dementia is a generic term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain.
A common type of dementia is Lewy body dementia.
It is estimated that this will affect more than 100,000 people in the UK.
For the first time, scientists can identify this form of dementia by walking.
Newcastle University research shows that people with Lewy body dementia walk differently than those with Alzheimer's disease.
This is a significant first step in establishing the approach as a clinical biomarker for different subtypes of the disease, and could lead to improved patient treatment plans.
Dr. Riona McArdle, a postdoctoral researcher at Newcastle University's Faculty of Medical Sciences, who led the Alzheimer Society-funded research, said, "The way we walk can reflect changes in thinking and thinking. memory that highlight problems in our brain. like dementia.
"Properly identifying the type of dementia a person is important to clinicians and researchers, because it allows patients to receive the most appropriate treatment for their needs as soon as possible.
"The results of this study are interesting because they suggest that walking could be a useful tool to add to the dementia diagnostic toolbox.
"This is a key development because a more accurate diagnosis means that we know that people are getting the right treatment, care and management for their dementia."
For the study, the researchers analyzed the walk of 110 people, including 29 seniors whose cognition was intact, 36 people with Alzheimer's disease and 45 with Lewy body dementia.
Participants took part in a simple walk test conducted at the Gait Lab of the Clinical Aging Research Unit, a research initiative funded by the National Institute for Health Research, jointly led by the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation. Trust and Newcastle University.
The participants moved along a footbridge – a mat with thousands of sensors inside – that captured their footsteps as they ran through at their normal speed, which revealed their habits Steps.
People with Lewy body dementia had a unique walking pattern in that they changed the time needed to take one step or the length of their steps more frequently than people with Alzheimer's disease, whose walking habits rarely changed.
When a person is afflicted with Lewy body dementia, his steps are more irregular, which is associated with an increased risk of falling. Their walk is more asymmetrical in step time and stride length, which means that their left and right steps are similar.
Scientists have discovered that analyzing both the variability of step length and their asymmetry between steps could accurately identify 60% of dementia subtypes – which had not occurred before. never been shown before.
Dr. James Pickett, Director of Research at the Alzheimer Society, said, "In this well-conducted study, we can see for the first time that the way we walk can provide clues that could help us distinguish between Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.
"This research – funded by the Alzheimer Society – is a pioneer in the treatment of dementia. This sounds promising to help establish a new approach to accurately diagnose different types of dementia.
"We know that the research will conquer dementia and provide invaluable support to the 850,000 people with this disease in the UK today. It is now vital to continue supporting promising research of this type.
"We are eager to see larger and longer studies validating this approach and shedding light on the relationship between the person's approach and the diagnosis of dementia."
According to the NHS, the other symptoms of Lewy dementia include:
- Problems with comprehension, thinking, memory and judgment – this is similar to Alzheimer's disease, although memory may be less impaired in people with Lewy body dementia
- Periods of fluctuating vigilance alternating with periods of confusion or drowsiness – this can change over time or days
- Hallucinations (usually seeing or sometimes hearing things that are not there)
- Disturbed sleep, often with violent movements and cries
- Fainting, instability and falls
[ad_2]
Source link