A new study from japan found that people who couldn’t stand on one leg for 20 seconds or longer had a greater likelihood to suffer brain changes that led to strokes and dementia than others. Those who had difficulty with the test also scored lower on tests scoring cognitive function.

Researchers found that older people and those with a higher BMI did worse. Prior research also suggest that small blood vessels in the brain can damage white matter that is important for a number of aspects of mobility, such as balance.