What Your Balance Tells You About Your Brain

How long can you balance on one leg? New research suggests that balance is linked to stroke risk and memory problems.

A simple way to find out is to see how long you can stand on one leg. If you can stand on one leg for at least 20 seconds, your risk for stroke and memory problems could be lower. If after three tries, you can't stand on one leg for more than 20 seconds, it may indicate a higher risk of stroke or future memory problems.

If you have any questions or concerns, check with your health care practitioner before testing your balance.

The study looked at over 1,000 people in Japan. About 30% of those with certain brain vessel diseases had trouble balancing. High blood pressure was also a risk factor.

To find out more about the study, check out this page on the American Heart Association Web site.