By Jenny Hope

Last updated at 9:55 AM on 16th February 2012

Middle-aged people who walk slowly and have a poor grip could be at greater risk of dementia or stroke in later life, researchers have warned.

Simple tests of physical ability may give clues as to who is most likely to go on to develop disorders such as Alzheimer’s and, to a lesser extent, suffer a stroke, they say.

Their study involved monitoring more than 2,400 participants with an average age of 62 over 11 years.

Tight grip: Research has found that simple tests on things like how fast a person walks may help doctors determine how likely that person might suffer dementia or a stroke

Those with a slower walking speed were found to be one and a half times more likely to develop dementia over the age of 65 compared with those who were more speedy.

People with a stronger grip had a 42 per cent lower risk of stroke or a mini-stroke – known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) – over the age of 65, although the risk was not cut at younger ages.

Lead researcher Dr Erica Camargo said this level of testing could be routinely carried out by primary care physicians and GPs. ‘These are basic office tests which can provide insight into risk of dementia and stroke and can be easily performed by a neurologist or general practitioner,’ she added.

Participants in the U.S. study were tested for walking speed, hand grip strength and cognitive function, and had brain scans.

During the follow-up period, 34 people developed dementia and 70 people had a stroke.

A scan showing a healthy brain (above) and one (below) revealing the warning signs of Alzheimer's in red. Researchers in Boston are looking at new tests to find out if a person is more likely to suffer from the disease (file picture)

Dr Camargo, of Boston Medical Centre, said: ‘While frailty and lower physical performance in elderly people have been associated with an increased risk of dementia, we weren’t sure how it impacted people of middle age.’

Researchers also found that slower  walking speed was associated with lower total cerebral brain volume – fewer ‘grey’ cells  and poorer performance on memory,  language and decision-making tests. Stronger grip strength was associated with larger  total cerebral brain volume as well as better performance on cognitive tests asking people to identify similarities among objects.

‘Further research is needed to understand why this is happening and whether preclinical disease could cause slow walking and decreased strength,’ added Dr Camargo.

Dr Anne Corbett, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘Before people take stock in the strength of a handshake or the speed you cross the road, more research is needed to understand why and what other factors are involved.

‘The good news is that there are many things to reduce your risk of developing dementia.

‘We recommend you eat a healthy balanced diet, don’t smoke, maintain a healthy  weight, take regular exercise, and get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly.’

The research was presented yesterday at the American Academy of Neurology’s 64th annual meeting in New Orleans. Some 820,000 people are affected by dementia in the UK.

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Dementia: Fast walking speed and a strong grip in middle age may help predict risk