This Overlooked Sign Could Mean a 2.5 Times Higher Risk of Dementia

If you regularly read up on how to improve your health, you’re probably tired of the same old song and dance—eat well, get enough sleep, reduce stress, and exercise. We hate to break it to you, but there’s no quick fix. And there’s actually a good reason why these tips have stood the test of time, especially when it comes to exercise. 

Turns out, regular workouts don’t just help with weight management, mood boosts, and overall disease prevention—they can also lower your risk of dementia. 

In a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, researchers discovered a shocking connection between muscle loss and developing issues with memory. The study followed 2,163 individuals aged 65 years or older who had the ability to think, learn, and remember clearly and showed no signs of dementia.

Researchers focused on two warning signs: losing muscle and feeling like your memory’s slipping. Over six years, they tracked people and found that both muscle loss and memory worries were red flags for greater risk down the road.

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For the study, participants filled out a straightforward questionnaire designed to flag early signs of muscle loss and cognitive decline. To assess sarcopenia (aka physical decline), they answered questions about strength, whether they needed help walking, had trouble standing up from a chair, or experienced falls and other mobility-related issues.

To screen for memory problems, they were asked two simple questions: “Do you have difficulties with your memory or attention?” and “Do you have difficulties with your memory only, attention only, or both?”

Out of all the participants, 135 people developed dementia over the study period. People who only had memory complaints were about 1.8 times more likely to get dementia. Those with sarcopenia alone were 2.4 times more likely, and those with memory complaints and sarcopenia were 2.5 times more likely to develop dementia. 

The takeaway? Both muscle and memory matter more than we thought. Building strength isn’t just about going shirtless at the beach—it could also help protect your brain from cognitive decline.