Dementia May First Manifest as Leg Weakness, leading Neurosurgeonโ Reports
London, UK – October 11, 2025 – Early symptoms of โdementia may notโ appear as โmemory loss, but rather as subtle โฃdifficulties withโ walkingโ and leg โขweakness, according to a warning issued by a top neurosurgeon. The revelation challenges conventional understanding of the diseaseS onset and coudl lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention for millions at risk.
Dementia,a syndrome affecting cognitive function,currently impacts over 55 โmillion people globally,with numbers projected to nearlyโ triple by 2050,according to the World Health Institution. Recognizing the initial signs is crucial, as early detection allows for lifestyleโ adjustments and potential therapies to slow progression. This new insight focuses attention onโ motor skills as a key indicator, perhaps broadening diagnostic criteria and prompting individuals to seek medicalโข evaluation sooner.
Professor Michael Crawford, a โleading neurosurgeon specializing in dementia, highlighted that changesโ in โgait and balance often precede noticeable memory problems. โHe explained that dementia frequently begins affecting areas โฃof the brain โresponsible for movementโค before impacting those governing memory and thinking. “We’re finding that subtle changes in how people โwalk – a slight shuffle, โincreased โคstiffness, or a tendency to โขtrip – can be an early warning sign, sometimes years before traditional symptoms emerge,” Crawford stated in a recent interview.
These initial motor symptoms โคstem from the buildup of abnormal proteins in brain regions controlling movement, such as the basal โganglia. As these โproteins accumulate, they disrupt โขneural pathways,โฃ leading to difficulties with coordination and balance. while leg weakness can have numerous causes, itsโ presenceโ alongside other โsubtle cognitive changes warrants examination by a โmedical professional.
Experts emphasize that experiencingโ leg weakness does not automatically โขindicate dementia. Though, awareness of this potential early symptom is vital for both individuals and โขhealthcare providers. Increasedโค vigilance and earlier โdiagnosis could significantly improve outcomes for those at risk of developing this โdebilitating condition. Further research is underway to refine diagnostic tools and develop targeted interventions based on these emerging findings.