The way a patient walks may give vital insight into diagnosing early-stage dementia, the Daily Mail reported on Saturday.

The new discovery may allow doctors to start treating patients years before more serious symptoms develop.

Researchers in Essex, England began a 10-year study of 1,000 over the age of 55 in an effort to pinpoint suffers using computer programs that track movement, WK Web reported.

Doctors want to find out if the onset of diseases like Parkinson's or Dementia can cause a pattern of physical changes.

Previous research has already shown that older people with Alzheimer's begin to walk slower and have different posture, with differences becoming worse as their condition progresses.

The Mini Mental State Examination is the front line of dementia diagnosis, where doctors ask patients to tell them what date it is, name common objects and repeat words back to them.

"The purpose of our study is to look at changes in gait in more detail than has been done so far," said Matthew Taylor, a specialist in biomechanics at Essex University. "For example, our physiotherapists have observed anecdotally that dementia patients often have reduced arm swing, but as far as we know, this has not been measured."

Healthy participants will wear camera markers that are synced with the research equipment, allowing computers to pick up on very slight movement changes. Patients with Parkinson's should benefit from the study as well.

"If we see those who develop this condition starting to walk in a different way in the years leading up to their diagnosis, doctors may be able to offer earlier intervention," Taylor said.

The study is also expected to help curb falls by studying movement patterns in elderly patients that are prone to losing their balance.