A study from the University of Central Florida (UCF) suggests Alzheimer's disease may produce early warning signs outside the brain, with walking, balance or coordination problems appearing "long before noticeable memory problems emerge."
Researchers at UCF found that gene mutations linked to Alzheimer's may disrupt the peripheral nerves that control muscle movement, even without direct involvement of the brain or spinal cord. The discovery, published on November 9, 2026, "raises the possibility that movement difficulties could provide earlier warning signs of the disease and that treatments focused exclusively on the brain may overlook important problems elsewhere in the body."
Motor Deficits May Be an Earlier Indication
The study was led by James Hickman and Xiufang “Nadine” Guo at UCF, with researchers from healthcare technology company Hesperos. Guo said: "Motor deficits may be an earlier indication [of Alzheimer's]. If we can detect those changes and intervene earlier, that could help delay the onset of central nervous system symptoms."
Alzheimer's is best known for causing worsening memory loss, confusion and other thinking problems. However, doctors have observed that some people develop physical changes, such as problems with balance, coordination and the way they walk, years before obvious cognitive symptoms appear.
Why Some Symptoms Appear Before Memory Loss
Science Daily reports that "to investigate, the UCF team focused on familial Alzheimer's, a rare inherited form of the disease that typically develops earlier in life (from 40 to 65 years of age) than the more common form."
Their experiments revealed that motor neurons carrying mutations linked to familial Alzheimer's could disrupt the connections responsible for controlling muscles, even when the brain and spinal cord were completely absent from the experimental system. Motor neurons are specialized nerve cells that transmit signals to muscles, telling them when to contract and produce movement. The findings suggest that Alzheimer's mutations can interfere with this process directly, rather than affecting movement only through damage to the brain.
Hickman said: "This is the first time it's been demonstrated that deficits in the peripheral nervous system can arise directly from these mutations. It means drugs that target the brain may not fix problems in the rest of the body."
Could This Mean an Earlier Diagnosis?
The experts note that the findings suggest a potentially important new direction for Alzheimer's research, involving looking beyond memory and other cognitive symptoms when investigating the disease. If future studies confirm that changes in motor function are detectable early in certain patients, tests of walking, coordination, or nerve-to-muscle activity might eventually help identify disease-related changes before more obvious neurological symptoms develop.
More research is needed to be sure what this means. If early movement changes can be reliably picked up in some people, simple checks of walking, coordination, or nerve-to-muscle signals could one day help spot Alzheimer's earlier, before clear brain symptoms show.
Experts at Alzheimer's Research UK explain that because dementia can stem from several different brain diseases, getting a clear, specific diagnosis can make a real difference to how the condition is managed. Before a dementia-causing disease is identified, a person may first be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. At this early stage, they can usually continue making their own decisions, with support from family and friends who understand what's happening.
More information about different types of dementia and their symptoms is available, and online public events offer further learning about dementia research. Questions about dementia, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis or treatment can be directed to the Alzheimer's Research UK Infoline team on 0300 111 5111 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or by emailing infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org.
