[Cognitive impairment and the risk of falling in the elderly].
Risk of fall is significantly increased in old people with cognitive decline due to specific associations between gait parameters and cognition. This association has recently been demonstrated, there being increasing evidence that cognitive domains such as attention, executive function and types of memory are critical for the correct regulation of gait. Gait disturbances can appear as early predictors of dementia in elderly patients. In the assessment of the fall risk, the use of dual tasks is novel, simple and relevant, especially in cognitive decline. Evidence for interventions in this population is limited, with vitamin D and physical exercise being the most encouraging, for decreasing the risk of fall in dementia.
Servicio de Geriatría, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España. alvaro.casas.herrero@navarra.es
Alvaro
A
Casas Herrero
Nicolás
N
Martínez Velilla
Francisco Javier
FJ
Alonso Renedo
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014807:Vitamin D