There are 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland and the number of people with the condition will more than double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 204
In Ireland, there are an estimated 64,000 people living with dementia – stock photo
Examining how patients walk could assist doctors in differentiating between two prevalent brain diseases, research shows.
Doctors frequently find it challenging to determine whether patients are experiencing early dementia with Lewy bodies or early Parkinson’s disease, as both neurological conditions present similar symptoms, including alterations in movement. Specialists at the University of Waterloo have discovered that analysis of walking behaviour could aid in distinguishing the diseases.
They discovered that people with early dementia with Lewy bodies walked more slowly, took shorter steps, and displayed a lower walking rhythm than those with early Parkinson’s.
Study leader Dr Kaylena Ehgoetz Martens stated: “We compared stepping patterns between individuals with early dementia with Lewy bodies and people with early Parkinson’s disease to see whether walking behaviour could help distinguish the two conditions and found that they can.
Walking behaviour differs between the two conditions, researchers found(Image: Getty)
“The findings highlight the promise of measuring movement in a more detailed manner, which could address a significant clinical problem.
“Because the two diseases look similar in their early stages, patients may receive an incorrect diagnosis, which affects treatment decisions, care planning and expectations for patients and their families.”
Dementia with Lewy bodies is a type of dementia that shares characteristics with both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. It accounts for 10-25% of the nearly 65,000 people with dementia in Ireland.
Approximately 15,000–18,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease in Ireland, making it the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s. It is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the country, with cases expected to double by 2050 due to an aging population.
When differentiating between the two conditions, doctors will also take into account other symptoms, reports the Express.
Dementia with Lewy bodies accounts for 10-25% of dementia cases in Ireland
If memory difficulties arise before movement is impacted, then dementia with Lewy bodies is more likely to be the culprit than Parkinson’s, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Straightforward walking assessments could assist doctors in diagnosing the two conditions more precisely and at an earlier stage, according to the researchers.
They discovered that the variations in gait were most marked when participants were asked to perform a second task, such as counting backwards.
Dr Ehgoetz Martens added: “Asking participants to walk while counting backward revealed changes that weren’t as obvious during regular walking.
“Ultimately, the goal is to identify individuals sooner, intervene earlier and improve quality of life before symptoms become more severe.”
The findings were published in the journal Gait & Posture.
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