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Most people know that dementia causes changes in a person’s mind. Their memory may become foggier, they could feel confused more often, and they might have trouble finding the right words at times. As dementia progresses, it can also cause changes in how someone’s body works. They might start having trouble with coordination and movement, and even experience new muscle loss or weakness. This can be confusing for people with dementia and their caregivers.
“My mother has been in a care facility for a little over a year,” one myALZteam member said. “She is now at the point in this disease where she is losing her ability to walk due to muscle weakness and stability issues.” Another member shared, “My husband still uses his walker, but I have been worried about getting him to the shower in the last few weeks because I’m afraid his legs won’t hold him up for a full shower, and he will fall.”
Alzheimer’s disease and other neuromuscular disorders can come with muscle loss and weakness, but the reasons for this aren’t well understood. Here’s what you should know about muscle loss and dementia.
Sarcopenia is a scientific term for muscle loss that comes with age. When you lose skeletal muscle (the muscle that helps you move your limbs and other body parts), you also lose muscle strength. Sarcopenia can lead to frequent falls, a weaker grip, or trouble climbing stairs. About 10 percent of people over 60 show signs of sarcopenia.
If you have a loved one with sarcopenia, you might see a visible change in how much muscle they have. As one myALZteam member shared, “My husband has lost some weight over the past year, and he eats three meals a day. He eats everything on his plate. His legs are losing muscle.”
Frailty is very similar to sarcopenia, but not quite the same. While both sarcopenia and frailty can put you at risk for falls when you have dementia, frailty is more than just loss of muscle mass and strength. It also involves slower movements, a decline in endurance, and a decreased ability to recover from health problems. Frailty can sometimes include weight loss. While frailty is age-related for some, it can appear at any age.
Research shows that people with frailty usually have sarcopenia, but not all people with sarcopenia have frailty. There is currently more research on the link between frailty and dementia than the link between sarcopenia and dementia.
Although research is still limited, scientists believe people with dementia are more likely to experience both sarcopenia and frailty than people without dementia.
In one study, researchers studied the link between sarcopenia and late-life cognitive impairment by evaluating more than 1,000 older adults without dementia. The participants took 17 tests to show their cognitive function and had annual follow-ups. Researchers also measured their skeletal muscle mass and strength.
The study found that adults with sarcopenia were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s dementia and had a faster rate of cognitive decline. It also showed that poor muscle function was a better sign of cognitive decline than low muscle mass.
Another study looked at the muscle strength and mass of people who already had Alzheimer’s dementia. The results showed little connection between muscle mass and strength. In other words, people with larger muscles weren’t necessarily stronger than those with smaller muscles. This study also found that weaker muscles were linked to cognitive decline, but muscle size wasn’t.
Researchers still have more to learn about muscle mass and brain health.
Even though researchers are still studying the relationship between sarcopenia and dementia, scientists think that keeping your muscles strong could help keep your brain healthy. Managing sarcopenia might help prevent cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Your muscle health and brain health might be linked in a couple of ways.
Some scientists believe that exercising your muscles can help prevent dementia. That’s because skeletal muscles make special proteins called neurotrophic factors, or growth factors. Neurotrophic factors support nerve communication and growth.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophic factor that helps with learning and memory, declines with age. People with Alzheimer’s disease typically have low levels of BDNF. Higher levels of BDNF and other neurotrophic factors may help prevent dementia and slow its progression.
Chronic (long-term) inflammation can contribute to sarcopenia. Many studies have also confirmed inflammation’s link to dementia.
Taking care of your muscles may also help support your or your loved one’s brain health. To stay strong and independent as dementia progresses, focus on a few key factors.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet helps you maintain muscle to prevent sarcopenia. It can also help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Protein is especially important. You can get protein from foods such as:
Fish is a great source of protein that’s also good for your brain health. While eating fish won’t cure dementia, it’s full of omega-3 fatty acids that help prevent cognitive decline.
Some people with dementia have a hard time eating. Several myALZteam members have discussed moving toward finger foods to make it easier for their loved ones with dementia to get the nutrients they need. One caregiver said, “Tonight, I fixed a finger food meal. I baked breaded fish into cubes and served them with baby baked potatoes and cubes of roasted sweet potatoes.”
Resistance training is a type of exercise that can help keep your muscles strong and working well. Resistance or strength training can include:
A lack of physical activity doesn’t just cause you to lose muscle strength — it also contributes to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s dementia. Aside from building muscle, physical exercise helps support brain health in people who have Alzheimer’s.
Resistance training and other movements have additional benefits for people with dementia, like reducing the risk of falls. Talk to your doctor about exercising safely and at a level of intensity that’s in line with your abilities.
Being social has more benefits for people with dementia than you might think. Social engagement supports your brain health and might slow the progression of dementia. It can also help reduce the risk of disability, helping you stay independent for longer.
Spending time with friends and family can also help improve overall well-being and prevent depression for people with dementia. This is important because feeling depressed can lead you or your loved one with dementia to be less physically active. Also, depression itself can raise your risk of dementia. Staying connected to others is a healthy choice for the mind and body.
Your doctor can give you advice for supporting your muscles and brain health. They can also let you know if there are any medications you should avoid with dementia or sarcopenia, and recommend products to make life with dementia easier.
Even though the connection between dementia and muscle loss isn’t yet fully understood, a healthy lifestyle that includes movement, nutrition, and social engagement has plenty of benefits for both the body and the brain.
On myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones, more than 86,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with Alzheimer’s disease.
Have you noticed muscle loss with dementia? What steps have you taken to prevent muscle loss for yourself or a loved one with dementia? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
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