Can you balance yourself on one leg for 20 seconds without any support? No? Then you may be at a higher risk of stroke or dementia per a new study.
Researchers have disclosed that the inability of an individual to stand on a single leg for over 20 seconds is connected with silent strokes and microbleeds.
"Our study found that the ability to balance on one leg is an important test for brain health. Individuals showing poor balance on one leg should receive increased attention, as this may indicate an increased risk for brain disease and cognitive decline," revealed lead researcher Dr. Yasuharu Tabara of Kyoto University in Japan
The scientists, however, aver that since the brain injuries are quite small, one may not see the symptoms. These silent strokes are indicative of growing issues and can increase the risk of dementia and major strokes.
For the purpose of the study, the researchers observed 546 men and 841 women who were aged 67 (average age). The scientists asked the subjects to stand on one leg with eyes wide open for up to a maximum of a minute.
The subjects carried out the test two times and the researchers took into consideration the better timing in the two instances for their analysis.
The participants also had to undergo go an MRI, which tested their levels of cerebral small vessel disease. This disease can often interfere with flow of blood in the brain.
The scientists found that nearly 34.5 percent subjects with lacunar infarction lesions that were more than two in number, had difficulty in balancing. Similarly, 16 percent of the subjects with a single lacunar infarction lesion and 30 percent individuals with over two areas of microbleeding had difficulty standing on one leg for 20 seconds. Additionally, 15.3 percent subjects with a single microbleed laceration had difficulty maintaining their balance.
Per Dr. Tabara, the duration for standing on a single leg is an easy measure of a person's brain health and existing anomalies.
"One-leg standing time is a simple measure of postural instability and might be a consequence of the presence of brain abnormalities," notes Dr. Tabara.
The study entitled "Association of Postural Instability With Asymptomatic Cerebrovascular Damage and Cognitive Decline" has been published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke.
