Slower Walking Speed May Be Harbinger of Mental Decline…

In this study, researchers followed 175 seniors with normal brain function for 14 years and found that those whose walking speed slowed during the course of the study also experienced shrinkage of the right hippocampus. This area of the brain not only affects spatial orientation, which may explain the slowed walking speed, but it also plays a role in forming long-term memories. The findings suggest that doctors should check older patients’ walking speed and watch for changes over time, since it may be an early indication of mental decline that warrants testing or preventative measures. —Neurology, June 2017