title: Relationship between falls and stride length variability in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.
abstract: In this study, 97 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) in a nursing home were followed over a period of 2 years, and the relationship between falls and gait function was examined. The findings indicated that the number of fallers was significantly higher in moderate-stage SDAT patients than in the mild-stage patients. In the moderate-stage SDAT patients, walking speed and stride length, measured as indices to evaluate gait function, were significantly lower, and the stride length variability was significantly higher than in mild-stage patients. When comparing the gait indices of fallers and non-fallers by the severity of dementia, a significant difference was observed only in stride length variability. The gait abnormality associated with advanced severity in dementia is believed to be a factor affecting falling. In particular, stride length variability appeared to be an effective predictor of falling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Special Education, Tsukuba University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meguro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index