Predicting Dementia Onset with Physical Function Measures
Author Information
Author(s): Schaefer Sydney, Peterson Daniel, Bravell Marie Ernsth, Finkel Deborah
Primary Institution: Arizona State University
Hypothesis
Does the decline in physical function accelerate before the onset of dementia?
Conclusion
The study found that fine motor skills decline faster in individuals who will develop dementia, suggesting they may be an early indicator of risk.
Supporting Evidence
- Fine motor skills declined faster in the dementia onset group, with differences emerging 9 years prior to dementia onset.
- Gait and grip strength showed no differences in the rate of change between groups.
- Fine motor decline occurred at the same rate as cognitive decline measured with the Mini-mental status exam.
Takeaway
Older people who will get dementia might start having trouble with tasks like using their hands before they actually show memory problems.
Methodology
The study analyzed changes in physical function measures over up to 26 years in older adults, comparing those who developed dementia with those who did not.
Limitations
The study only included data prior to dementia diagnosis and relied on clinical consensus for dementia diagnosis.
Participant Demographics
The study involved 518 older adults, with 259 diagnosed with dementia.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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