Fall risk is higher for those with cognitive impairment
It’s no secret that as we age, we become increasingly at risk of falling, and fall-related injuries are more dangerousfor older adults. What researchers recently learned, however, is potentially significant: a definitive link between cognitive slowing and fall risk, and an opportunity to provide better care for those living with dementia.
Manuel Montero-Odasso, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, and his colleagues set out to study the role of cognition in falls, with the hope of managing and even preventing them in older adults.
Their study, published in the Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society last year, measured the relationship between gait and
cognition in aging adults. The study showed that low performance in attention
and executive function was associated with “gait slowing, instability, and
future falls.” In addition, older adults with dementia who experience a fall
are five times more likely to be admitted to long-term care facilities. They
are at higher risk for fractures, head injuries compared to older adults
without dementia who experience a fall.
Montero-Odasso and his team concluded that older adults living with dementia should have cognitive training specifically related to their motor function. Montero-Odasso also said he is optimistic about the role virtual reality might play as a therapeutic tool.
Fall risk is more common than you think
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, more than one in three people age 65 years or older
What else can older adults – and those soon to join the
older adult population – do to prevent
falls before they happen? The HHS has several suggestions:
- Stay
physically active – Regular exercise keeps muscles, joints, and ligaments
healthy and flexible, and may also slow bone loss due to osteoporosis - Have your
eyesight and hearing tested – Ensure your glasses or contacts prescription
is up to date, and if you have a hearing aid, always wear it - Ask about
the side effects of your medications - Get
enough sleep! - Limit
alcohol consumption – Even a small amount can be enough to affect your
reflexes - Stand up
slowly – Getting up too quickly can cause your blood pressure to drop,
which could be worsened by blood
pressure medication - Use an
assistive device if you need help feeling steady when you walk - Be very
careful when walking on wet or icy surfaces - Wear good
shoes – Non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes that fully support your
feet can make a big difference - Always
tell your doctor if you have fallen since your last checkup, even if you aren’t
hurt when you fall – A fall could be the result of a new health issue, so
your doctor needs to know about it
For more information on fall prevention, visit https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent-falls-and-fractures.
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