Could Romney be an early dementia or Alzheimer's case? [View all]

[LongTomH]

Last edited Sun Aug 5, 2012, 04:08 PM - Edit history (1)

I took part in a voter registration drive Saturday. The lady I helped change her registration remarked on Romney's 'gait;' apparently he takes very short steps. This lady says she's heard that a very short gait could be a sign of Alzheimer's or dementia. She also pointed out that some of his verbal gaffes may indicate neurological impairment.

And a Google search on Alzheimer's AND dementia comes up with a number of hits:
USA Today: A person's gait could be an early sign of Alzheimer's
Business Week: Changes in Gait May be Early Signs of Alzheimer's in Older People
Age and Ageing: Gait Disturbance in Alzheimer's Disease: A Clinical Study

From the Business Week article:

A slow or uneven gait in older patients may be more than the effect of advancing age, according to three studies that found walking disorders in the elderly also may be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

The studies sampled a combined 4,000 people, finding that pace, rhythm and the size of steps changed with neurological illness, according to information presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Vancouver.

Watching an older patient walk into an exam room may offer a first clue that psychological evaluation needs to be done, said William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer for the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association. Since people with Alzheimer’s are more likely to suffer a debilitating fall than healthy peers, this simple observation may help patients get the right care and prevent injury and disability.

Has anyone else noticed Romney's gait?