Dual decline and dementia – a new tool for accurate risk assessment?

Takeaway

• A decline in gait speed combined with cognitive decline has a strong association with increased dementia risk highlighting the importance of gait in dementia risk assessment.

Why this matters?

• At-risk individuals for dementia are believed to accumulate the associated neuropathology over 20–30 years before diagnosis.

• Accurate screening for at-risk individuals means modifiable risk factors, such as physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, obesity, and smoking, can me managed to reduce overall risk.