[Dementia and falls].
BACKGROUND
Dementia is now a frequent disease in elderly and may be a major risk of falling. Usually these falls are multiple and serious, but their consequences are not specific. All types of dementia (Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, dementia in Parkinson's disease, fronto-temporal dementia, vascular dementiaellipsis) and all stages of evolution are concerned.


CONCLUSIONS
These falls result from cognitive and behavioural disorders, visual and motor problems, gait and balance disturbances, malnutrition, adverse effects of medication and fear of falling.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevention is possible. Attention must be given on the patient himself (keeping in good health, limitation in sedative treatment and mechanical restraintsellipsis) and on his environment (lighting, obstacles on the ground, stress levelellipsis). After a fall, especially after a complicated fall, rehabilitation modalities and aims must be adapted but caring must not be defeatist. Randomized studies need to be realized.
Strubel
D
D
Service de gérontologie et prévention du vieillissement, CHU, 5, rue Hoche, 30029 cedex 4, Nîmes, France.
Jacquot
J M
JM
Martin-Hunyadi
C
C
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors