Longevity & Aging

Primitive Reflexes in Older Adults Signal Nearly Double the Dementia Risk

A longitudinal study of 873 older adults found that the reappearance of primitive reflexes — neurological responses normal in infants but absent in healthy adults — significantly predicts dementia risk. Researchers at West Virginia University tracked participants over 7 years and found that cognitively normal adults with two or more so-called frontal release signs, such as the grasp, snout, or rooting reflex, were 78% more likely to develop dementia. These reflexes disappear as the brain matures and can re-emerge when brain degeneration occurs. The findings suggest a simple, no-cost neurological exam could serve as an early screening tool alongside expensive biomarker tests, making it a potentially powerful addition to routine checkups for older adults.