A Chinese Study Reveals a Strong Link Between Physical Weakness and the Risk of Dementia

An international study led by Zhengzhou University in China has revealed an unexpected causative factor for dementia, as researchers found that physical weakness is significantly associated with the development of the disease, according to what was published in the journal Neurology.

The study was based on an analysis of data from about 490,000 participants in the UK Biobank project, including health and mental status and daily physical activity levels. The team showed that signs of physical weakness such as weight loss, decreased grip strength, slow walking, fatigue, and low physical activity are linked to higher rates of dementia.

The results found that individuals with obvious physical weakness are three times more likely to develop dementia compared to others, while the risk increases by nearly 50% among those with moderate weakness.

The researchers also focused on the genetic factor, particularly carriers of the APOE-e4 risk gene, finding that the combination of this gene and physical weakness increases the risk of dementia eightfold compared to others. MRI scans showed changes in brain structure, while blood tests revealed metabolic disorders and immune system dysfunction in this group.

The study's authors confirmed that physical weakness can be an early indicator of cognitive decline, and simple strength and endurance tests may help doctors identify individuals at risk of dementia and initiate early prevention programs.