Your walking speed could indicate dementia

A new study suggests older people's walking speed could help indicate a higher risk of dementia.

(CNN) - A new study suggests the way older people walk could be a sign of their cognitive abilities. Researchers followed nearly 17-thousand older adults for seven years… Including a group of Americans over the age of 65 and a group of Australians over 70.

They found patients who walked about five-percent slower or more each year -- while also showing signs of slower mental processing -- were most likely to develop dementia. The study was published in the journal, 'jama network open' on tuesday.

There are things people can do to reverse the brain shrinkage that comes with typical aging. Studies have found aerobic exercise increases the size of the hippocampus, increasing some aspects of memory.