Standing on one leg for 20 seconds can predict chance of dementia

[okaawhatever]

Balancing on one leg may indicate if a person is at risk of dementia or stroke, a study has found.

Scientists found that an inability to stand on one leg for more than 20 seconds was associated with microbleeds and "silent" strokes.
Although the brain injuries were too small to cause symptoms, scientists warned they could indicate growing problems.

SNIP

The research, published in the journal Stroke, showed that 34.5 of those with more than two lacunar infarction lesions had trouble balancing.

The same was true for 16 per cent of participants with one lacunar infarction lesion and 30 per cent of men and women with more than two sites of microbleeding.

More interesting info at link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11302273/Standing-on-one-leg-for-20-seconds-can-predict-chance-of-dementia.html

[arcane1]

1. I'm sure I'm not the only one who just now tried it.

Thankfully, I was successful

[Sunlei]

13. Me too! a minute just to be sure, I've never had really good balance.

Very cool self test, always like it when scientists share tips.

[jwirr]

2. Okay - there is no difference between standing on one leg at the age of 16 and 73? At the age of

73 I would need to put one hand on the back of a chair for balance. Didn't need that at 16.

[blogslut]

3. I wonder if they took into account those who were trained to balance on one leg.

Those teenage ballet lessons paid off.

[bigwillq]

4. I tried it after I heard it on the noon news today.

I balanced for more than 20 seconds!

[Scuba]

5. I'm good.

But only on one side. Damned knee.

[bullwinkle428]

6. I was able to do it for a full minute, but DAMN, it really works the muscles

running up from the ankles really hard!

Definitely a concern of mine, as I'm age 50, and both my father and grandfather suffered with dementia at the end of their lives.

[pnwmom]

7. So having bad knees means you're going to have dementia? n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Osteoarthritis in the first metatarsophalangeal joint appears to spell doom too.

[Ms. Toad]

11. That,

and Meniere's disease or any other inner ear or cervical issue which make balancing impossible.

Not a terribly refined test. It probably should be an inability to balance combined with the lack of any other known balance issue.

[pnwmom]

12. I just tested and discovered

I could do it on one leg and not the other (the one with a more recent torn meniscus).

Also, I was better on bare feet than with shoes.

[Ms. Toad]

14. Both legs - a minute on each side.

One considerably harder than the other - not surprising, since I have vertigo related to one sided muscle damage. The surprising thing is that it was the opposite side that was harder.

But - 18 months ago I would not have lasted on either side more than 5 seconds. I seriously doubt I have increased my life span by getting rid of a year of vertigo

I am so grateful that I got connected with a doctor who pointed me in the direction of what was wrong, and that once I knew what was wrong I was able to work with semi-incompetent physical therapists to address it. (Fired the more technically competent one because she refused to listen to me and wanted to work on something else (and managed to give me more than a month of pain in the process), then did enough independent research to supplement the less technically skilled one's exercises in order to resolve the problem.)

[pnwmom]

16. I'm impressed.

I liked my physical therapist this time -- but I hope I never have to see her again. I did get motivated to get an exercise bike for home, which I am using, so that was something.

[mythology]

34. You can do a lot to mitigate bad knees

I have 12 scars on my knees, 10 from surgeries, and up until surgery this week, I could balance for 30 seconds on a rail on either leg.

But also it's a factor that may indicate a heightened risk for dementia. It's not a singular causal factor. So it could indicate that you have slight bleeds that don't show up elsewhere yet. It could also indicate that you're drunk, or that you have a knee injury, or that you lack basic proprioception. But especially if you have suffered a loss of balance in a short period of time, you might take that information to your doctor before it becomes a bigger issue.

[pnwmom]

37. Thanks. Good suggestions.

In my case, it's a torn meniscus that's still getting PT, and achilles tendonitis in both ankles. But I'm working on getting stronger, which seems to be the key.

[malaise]

9. I do that everyday for exercise

and fitness must have something to do with it.

[LiberalArkie]

20. Might be. I do an hour of cardio every M-T-W-T-F.

[hobbit709]

10. In my case it would be diabetic neuropathy in my legs.

[retread]

15. I would object to this research, but I don't have a leg to stand on.

[okaawhatever]

17. Oh no you didn't.....LOL nt

[MissDeeds]

18. I'm going to give this a try

as soon as this glass of Chardonnay wears off.

Seriously, my family has been plagued by strokes, my grandfather, dad, mom, brother...I'm the only one in my immediate family that has not had one. Fingers crossed, and thanks for the info, okaawhatever.

K&R

[LiberalArkie]

19. I never could pass the field sobriety test, but I did the one minute

But only 5 seconds with eye closed. Ankles sore from the wobbling back and forth though. What does it say, I already feel demented at one month from my 67 birthday?

[TBF]

21. Are you allowed to lock your knees?

Hot Yoga rocks - I can stand for quite awhile on either leg despite the arthritis.

[murielm99]

22. I can only do that with one leg.

I work out regularly, too.

[Mr.Bill]

23. Harmless test

but don't substitute it for regular check-ups with a physician.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Did A Minute On Each Leg

Easily too. However, i couldn't do more than about 10 seconds when i close my eyes. My neuro does this drill yearly because people with MS have a harder time with the fine muscle control one needs to stay balanced without visual cues. I've been able to do about the same amount of time for 20 years now, so he says that's a good thing.

[AlbertCat]

25. I tried standing on one leg....but

... before the 20 seconds was over, my sister yelled "Will you get off my leg!"

I wonder if I was doing it wrong....

[mmonk]

30. LOL

[justiceischeap]

26. I didn't last but a second the first time nt.

[jberryhill]

27. Standing on your own leg?

[el_bryanto]

28. I don't see what the deal is - the guy in the office next to mine didn't like me standing on his leg

but really, it seemed pretty easy.

Edited to add - seems like that is a common joke to make about this story.

Bryant

[mmonk]

29. My wife has had two knee surgeries.

Does that hold true for her?

[Iggo]

36. Yes. Knee surgery causes dementia. I'm sorry.

[madokie]

31. Fuck

where do I turn in the towel caused I'm baked.

In the summer of '95 I had an inner ear injury that left me laying on my back for 2, 3 months and with vertigo still today so maybe thats why I couldn't make the five second mark.

[Ilsa]

32. Stand on hard floor, not carpet. nt

[Buns_of_Fire]

33. Well, I'm boned.

On the other hand, if I ever choose to be 100% sober (evenings) or 100% not caffeinated-up (mornings), I may try it again.

[olddots]

35. I can levitate for hours

If I eat 3 Twinkies .

[LynneSin]

38. Raise your hands if you read this article while standing on one leg

[Initech]

39. Yo!