The relation between cognitive impairment and the risk of falling among elderly people: preliminary reports

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the relation between the severity of cognitive impairment and the risk of falling among the elderly.
Methods. The risk of falling was analyzed in 20 subjects (mean age 79,6 ±9,5). The study included persons with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score below 27 (average MMSE 17,7 ±6,0). To assess the risk of falling the Fallscreen in a shortened version was used (PPA). The correlation of MMSE results with PPA results was analyzed.
Results. The mean value of the fall risk indicator was 4,9 ±0,2. Analyzing the relation between separate PPA tests, there was a significant negative moderate correlation of MMSE scores with reaction time (−0,54) and a similar positive correlation with knee extension strength (0,61).
A high correlation of MME results was recorded with the fall risk indicator (−0,71).
Conclusion. The strong correlation of cognitive impairment with the physiological profile among elderly shows that the higher the cognitive deficit, the higher the likelihood of a fall incident in this group. When creating fall prevention programs, it is worth paying attention to improving the muscular strength of the lower limbs and general reaction time, because these two elements may particularly affect the increased fall risk of people with cognitive impairment.