Have you ever watched figure skating on TV and found yourself amazed at how effortlessly the competitors glide and spin on one foot? As many of us know, it takes a lot of practice (and courage) to find the balance to let go of the wall – let alone stand on one skate. While we’re all aware that professional figure skaters have us beat when it comes to agility and athleticism, did you know that they might have superior brain health, too?

A study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke has demonstrated that balance is strongly linked with cognitive status. Meaning, your ability to balance can tell you a lot about your brain function and even predict your chances of being fit and healthy years down the road. This is one of the first studies to closely examine how long a person can stand on one leg as an indicator of overall brain health.

“One-leg standing time is a simple measure of postural instability and might be a consequence of the presence of brain abnormalities,” said Dr. Yasuharu Tabara, associate professor at the Center for Genomic Medicine at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Kyoto, Japan.

Dr. Tabara’s study measured the balance of about 840 women and 550 men with an average age of 67. Participants were asked to close their eyes and raise one leg, balancing for as long as possible. The research showed a correlation between those who couldn’t balance on one leg for longer than 20 seconds and the risk for developing cerebral small vessel disease, which is a type of small stroke that happens when blood supply to the brain is blocked. While these small strokes may not produce any symptoms at the time, they can lead to bigger strokes and health problems in the future.

One way to keep blood flowing to your brain and ensure a healthy circulatory system is by wearing compression socks. Compression socks promote blood flow from your legs back up to your heart, helping prevent blood clots from developing. If a blood clot forms in a deep vein, it can block the flow of blood or break off and travel back to the heart and the rest of the body, including the brain. A blood clot that travels to the brain in this way can cause a stroke.

So, if you haven’t checked your balance recently, it might be a good idea to give it a try. Talking with your doctor now can help ensure healthy brain function for years to come.