Will walking while doing a task make me move slower if I have dementia?

If you have dementia, walking while doing something else — like talking or counting — can make you move slower and take shorter steps. This is called dual-task walking. Research shows that people with dementia have more trouble with this than people without dementia. The effect is bigger than when you just walk without doing anything else.

What the research says

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that when people with dementia walk while doing a second task (like talking or counting), they walk more slowly and take shorter steps compared to people without dementia ². The study also found that dual-task conditions made the differences between groups larger than when walking alone ². This means that adding a task while walking can make movement problems more noticeable in dementia. The review included many studies, mostly on Alzheimer's disease, and used devices like motion sensors to measure walking ². The results were consistent across studies, even though there was some variation in how much slower people walked ². Other sources do not directly address dual-task walking, but they confirm that dementia affects movement and cognition in general ⁶⁸.

What to ask your doctor

• Should I be evaluated for walking problems, especially when doing two things at once?
• Are there exercises or therapies that can help me walk more safely while doing tasks?
• What signs should I watch for that might mean I need help with walking or balance?
• Could a physical or occupational therapist help me practice dual-task walking?
• Are there assistive devices or technologies that could help me stay steady while walking?