My 80 year old husband does this exact thing almost every time he walks! Additionally, when standing still, if he bends over, unsupported, to look at something or whatever, he continues to involuntarily bend at the waist to the point of almost falling over. He says he does not realize he is continuing to lean forward. His balance nerve on the left side does not function due to acoustic neuroma surgery back in 1993. Maybe the other one can no longer compensate for that loss. Maybe something else going on. Waiting on recent MRI results to determine next steps.
I should add that he has no chronic health issues, mental or physical. He does not take any medications on a regular basis.
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Thank you for posting..the exact thing happened to me two weeks ago. I had a falling forward fall. My upper body was being pulled forward, my legs were going faster and faster, couldn’t stop and I fell forward. My question to all of you, what was your diagnosis? Of course all I can think of is Parkinson’s. If any of you are still active on this site I’d love to hear from you. I have an appointment with a neurologist tomorrow. Thanking you in advance.
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The forward lean describes exactly the incident I had while walking along Fernandina Beach with my wife a couple of weeks ago. We had started our 4 mile stroll with no issues. But the farther I went the worse it got, until at the 2 mile mark I got down on all fours and rolled on my back, thinking my mild stenosis was throwing my back out of whack. After 5 mins or so I tried getting up, assisted by my wife, and then felt a strong urge to fall forward. Whew, it was 2 miles back to our condo, and I had to really move my feet fast to keep up with what my torso wanted to do. I've been a bit leery about taking a long walk, but after reading these posts figure maybe mine too was an isolated incident. Weird!!
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Finding this comment has pointed me in a direction. I had this "Lean Forward " happen, had no idea why. Both times I was out and started to lean and walk faster and faster. It lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes. I have always gone to doctor and after first time had mention, second time he knew it was serious. Now , I am going to Neurology specialist.

Will follow up
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The title of this caught my attention... and held it as I read because it described EXACTLY an odd (and isolated) incident that occurred with my mom once last summer when we were out walking. [Which, sadly, we seemed to do less and less after that time, even in gorgeous weather, until such strolls pretty much ceased altogether.]

She had slowed down significantly in general at that point in time, but that day, when we were were just about back to the house (about 3 doors down), she started a forward lean, such as you noted - and began moving oddly rapidly. I could not have described it better than you did - to say that it seemed her lower body was trying to keep up with her upper body, as if in an attempt to prevent her from falling forward on her face. I was walking beside her, our arms hooked, and I could hardly keep up with this sudden burst in her gait. It continued right up the driveway until she put her hands out in front of her as if to allow the closed garage door to "break" this action, and then leaned against it, panting heavily, as if she'd just run a marathon or something. I questioned her, but she was unable to explain what any of that was about. And I never saw it again - nor did any of my siblings ever experience this with her. To this day, I have no idea what was happening there, but I still recall it vividly and how odd it was. Until your article, I had never seen/heard any mention of such a thing by anyone else, either.

By the way, my mom has dementia (vascular), but not Alzheimer's. She has had several falls/breaks, and each incident throws her deeper into the dementia - but somehow she manages to heal quite miraculously from each injury (by doing the bare minimum of physical therapy until someone signs off on it, then no longer moves a muscle to try and maintain/improve her strength/balance/circulation), though she is less steady on her feet and again, therefore, less active.

Very interesting of you to note this incident, and even while being aware of it, not be able to explain it causally or medically.

Please know that this is a brave and wonderful thing you are doing, documenting your experiences. You may never know how many others such a venture will benefit. You have my admiration, gratitude, and prayers.
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Thank you for sharing this constructive introspection.
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God bless you David, I will keep you in my prayers.
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Lovely read. Just out of curiosity, did the additional testing determine that you perhaps had Lewy Body Dementia?
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