Weakness of the body can lead to the development of dementia

Doctors have long known that a weakened state of the body is associated with memory disorders and cognitive failures. But a new study has suggested that physical infirmity itself can be one of the factors triggering changes in the brain.

The large-scale analysis included almost half a million people with an average age of about 57 years, who were followed for 14 years. Participants who had the same three or more signs — fatigue, lack of activity, slow walking, weak grip, or unintentional weight loss — were at risk. Among them, dementia was almost three times more common than in those who did not have such manifestations.

It is noteworthy that even the “borderline” state, when one or two symptoms were observed, already increased the likelihood of illness by about 50 percent. And the combination of body weakness with a genetic predisposition to cognitive impairment increased the risk by almost four times.

Additionally, the specialists used MRI and biomarker data. People with signs of physical infirmity were more likely to have changes in the brain structure characteristic of dementia. This confirms that the body and the nervous system are more closely connected than previously thought.

According to the authors, timely detection and correction of physical weakness can become one of the key areas of prevention of cognitive impairment. Simple steps — keeping active, exercising muscles, and eating well — can reduce the likelihood of severe consequences in the future.