Subtle nervous system abnormalities may predict risk of death in older individuals
June 23, 2008 | Source: KurzweilAI
University of Florence researchers and colleagues have found that subtle but clinically detectable neurological abnormalities such as reduced reflexes or unstable posture help predict the risk of death and stroke in otherwise healthy older adults–possibly a sign of early brain damage.
These results suggest that a standard neurological exam should become a routine part of healthcare for older adults, because the exam has a predictive value similar to biomarkers.