Neurological exams could predict the future
15 years, 10 months ago
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Posted on Jun 23, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
Giving older adults standard neurological exams could be a good predictor of future brain health and quality of life, an Indiana University Center for Aging study, working with an Italian research team has found.
Giving older adults standard neurological exams could be a good predictor of future brain health and quality of life, an Indiana University Center for Aging study, working with an Italian research team has found.
Data from standardized neurological exams revealed adults without disabilities who displayed higher levels of subtle neurological abnormalities at baseline had a greater chance of both cognitive and functional decline.
Editorial co-author, Dr Malaz Boustani, believes the study proves the benefit of standard neurological tests for older adults, suggesting it could be "used as a 'cheap biomarker' of future cognitive decline because it appears to have predictive value similar to biomarkers".
"The Italian study confirms that looking at subtle neurological abnormalities in healthy older adults gives the doctor an insight into factors that contribute to impairment of functional cognition, which lead to disability and poor quality of life," he added.
The use of the technique could increase, as the number of over-65s in America is expected to grow from 12 per cent to one in five by 2030, according to the US National Institute on Aging.
