Standing On One Leg Test Could Reveal Your Risk Of Stroke In Later Life

Can you stand on one leg easily? If you can, it could mean you're less at risk of stroke and dementia in later life than those who can't.

In a new study, scientists found that an inability to stand on one leg for more than 20 seconds was associated with microbleeds and "silent" strokes.

Although the brain injuries were too small to cause symptoms, scientists warned they could signal later problems.

Silent strokes, or lacunar infarctions, are known to increase the risk of both full-blown strokes and dementia.

Lead researcher Dr Yasuharu Tabara, from Kyoto University in Japan, said: "Our study found that the ability to balance on one leg is an important test for brain health.

"Individuals showing poor balance on one leg should receive increased attention, as this may indicate an increased risk for brain disease and cognitive decline."

The scientists looked at 841 women and 546 men with an average age of 67 who were asked to stand with their eyes open and one leg raised for a maximum of 60 seconds.

Participants performed the test twice and the better of the two times was used in the study analysis.

They also had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess their levels of cerebral small vessel disease, which can interfere with blood flow in the brain.

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The research, published in the journal Stroke, showed that 34.5 of those with more than two lacunar infarction lesions had trouble balancing.

The same was true for 16% of participants with one lacunar infarction lesion and 30% of men and women with more than two sites of microbleeding.

"One-leg standing time is a simple measure of postural instability and might be a consequence of the presence of brain abnormalities," said Dr Tabara.

The research is published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke.

Foods That Lower Stroke Risk

Chocolate(01 of07)

A Swedish study in the journal Neurology showed that eating chocolate is linked with a lower risk of stroke in men. The study, which included 37,103 men, showed that men who ate the most chocolate in the 10-year study had a 17 percent lower risk of stroke, compared with those who didn't report eating any chocolate during that time period. (credit:Alamy)

Whole Grains(02 of07)

Eating lots of whole grains could help to lower risk of ischemic stroke for women, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The findings showed that women who ate the most whole grains in the study (like the amount you'd get by eating two or three whole grain bread slices every day) had a 30 to 40 percent lower stroke risk, compared with women who ate the fewest whole grains in the study (like the amount you'd get by eating just a half-slice of whole grain bread every day), according to ABC News. (credit:Alamy)

Citrus Fruits(03 of07)

An antioxidant found in citrus fruits could help to lower risk of stroke in women, according to a study of 70,000 women earlier this year in the journal Stroke. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women who consumed the most flavonoids over a 14-year period had a 19 percent lower risk of stroke than the women who consumed the fewest flavonoids during that time period. (credit:Alamy)

Antioxidants(04 of07)

While antioxidants aren't exactly a food on their own, fruits, vegetables and whole grains that are rich in them are linked with a lower stroke risk for women. Research published in the journal Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association showed that women with no heart disease history who consumed the most antioxidants from food had a 17 percent lower risk of stroke, and women with a heart disease history who consumed the most antioxidants from food had a 57 percent decreased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The researchers, from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, speculated that the protection comes from antioxidants' ability to stop inflammation and oxidative stress in the body by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Antioxidants can also help to reduce blood clots and lower blood pressure and decrease inflammation, according to the American Heart Association. (credit:Alamy)

Low-Fat Dairy (05 of07)

Consuming low-fat dairy could help to lower the risk of stroke, according to a Stroke study. The research showed that the adults who consumed the most low-fat dairy over a 10-year period had a 12 percent lower risk of stroke compared with those who consumed the least low-fat dairy over the time period. "It is possible that vitamin D in low-fat dairy foods may explain, in part, the observed lowered risk of stroke in this study because of its potential effect on blood pressure," study researcher Susanna Larsson, Ph.D., associate professor of nutritional epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet, said in a statement. (credit:Alamy)

Magnesium-Rich Foods (06 of07)

Foods loaded with magnesium -- like beans, nuts leafy greens and whole grains -- are linked with a lower risk of ischemic stroke, WebMD Reported. The findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed specifically that for each 100 milligrams of magnesium consumed each day, ischemic stroke risk went down by 9 percent. (credit:Alamy)

Fish(07 of07)

Making sure to eat some fish every week could help to lower risk of stroke, according to a review of studies published in the journal Stroke. Reuters reported on the study, which showed that eating fish several times a week was linked with a lower risk of stroke, compared with non-fish eaters. "I think overall, fish does provide a beneficial package of nutrients, in particular the omega-3s, that could explain this lower risk," Dariush Mozaffarian, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, whose research was part of the Stroke analysis, told Reuters. (credit:Alamy)

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