Long before memory loss or confusion become noticeable, subtle changes in the way a person walks could offer clues that Alzheimer's disease is quietly developing in the brain, according to researchers investigating a potential new avenue for early detection. Scientists at Texas A&M University are exploring whether detailed measurements of gait, the pattern of a person's walking, can reveal the earliest biological signs of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in adults who have not yet developed cognitive symptoms. The work is being led by Dr.
Jenna Yentes, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, who believes walking patterns could one day become another routine health measure used to identify people who may benefit from further screening. "Changes in gait can be improved and even prevented through many different exercise routines," Yentes told Newsweek. "Maintaining active, strong muscles and one’s balance is important throughout the aging process." She said slowing down is often viewed as a normal part of aging, but physical and neurological interventions can help maintain mobility.
"If you have concerns, see a physical therapist to start," Yentes added. By the time Alzheimer's begins affecting memory, the disease process may already have been underway for decades, limiting opportunities for early intervention. Current methods for detecting the condition often rely on brain scans, blood tests or cognitive assessments, which are typically performed only after symptoms emerge.
Previous studies have linked changes in walking to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, but many focused on people who were already experiencing cognitive decline. The Texas A&M team hopes to determine whether gait changes can be detected even earlier, while people are still functioning normally in everyday life. To investigate, researchers will recruit 50 adults aged between 45 and 85 who do not have dementia; larger clinical trials would be needed to validate any discovered gait biomarkers.
Participants will undergo cognitive testing, complete health questionnaires, provide blood samples, have brain MRI scans and take part in detailed walking assessments. During those assessments, scientists will record participants' normal and fastest walking speeds using motion-capture technology. The team will then compare those results with brain imaging findings, blood biomarkers and cognitive measures to see whether gait patterns correspond with early biological signs associated with Alzheimer's.
One focus of the research is "gait reserve," the difference between a person's usual walking speed and the fastest pace they can comfortably maintain. Researchers will also examine "gait variability," the subtle differences between steps that help people adjust to changing environments. According to the team, too little variability or excessive randomness in walking patterns may reflect changes in the body's ability to adapt.
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