Older patients’ gait could point to depression

The slower they walk, and the shorter the steps the more likely they'll develop the disorder: study

Next time an elderly patient walks (or shuffles) into the surgery, consider their gait, because researchers have found links between walking speed and step length, and depression in later life.

In the Irish study, older people with a slower walking pace or a shorter step length were more likely to develop depression over the next four years than those who walked more quickly.