Experts say walking below this speed could be a warning sign for dementia

There have been warnings that your walking speed could be an indicator of dementia years ahead of the time you'd get a diagnosis.

Back in 2022, researchers published a study of almost 17,000 people which found that a decline in the speed a person walked was associated with an increased risk of dementia.

The scientists argued that dementia screening tests should include a portion on a person's walking speed, as they found that in over 65s people who walked around five percent slower each year and showed signs of slower mind speeds were the most likely to develop dementia.

Studied over the course of years, these thousands of people were periodically asked to take tests designed to measure a person's cognitive decline with age, and also walk three metres to study their gait.

The findings noted that it appeared as though 'dual decliners', people whose results indicated a drop in their cognitive ability and walking speed, were the group most likely to end up with dementia.

Getting old is difficult enough, but if you notice your walking speed declining that's seen as a bad sign (Getty Stock Photo)

Dr Joe Verghese, Professor of Geriatrics and Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, was not involved in the study but he made observations on it.

He said: "Dual decliners had a higher risk of dementia than those with either gait or cognitive decline alone."

However, he added that 'gait dysfunction has not been considered an early clinical feature in patients with Alzheimer's disease'.

Dr Amit Sachdev, Medical Director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University, noted that 'slower walking speed is an important metric for overall health, and overall health predicts brain health'.

He noted that whatever the reason for a person walking slower it 'almost always implies a decline in overall wellness is coming'.

Researchers linked a steady decline in walking speed for the over 65s with an increased risk of developing dementia (Getty Stock Photo)

Doctor Courtney Conley claimed that if you wanted to maintain a decent walking speed then you should try exercising by walking a little faster than you ordinarily would.

Many people would reckon a speed of three miles an hour was a pretty regular walking speed, but the doctor suggested that you should try and pick up the pace a bit instead.

Speaking to Dhru Purohit, she said: "When your walking speed is slow, this can be a predictor of things like dementia up to seven years in advance.

"How fast should you be walking? And the research will say around 3.5 miles an hour, four miles per hour, which is a little bit faster than I think most people realize.

"If you were to count how many steps you take per minute, you'd want to be around 135 to 140 steps per minute. So, you want a brisk, fast-paced walk for about 30 minutes."

So anything under 3.5mph, you're doing yourself no favours. Upping it a little could help a lot.