title: Balance and mobility dysfunction and falls risk in older people with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify the magnitude and type of balance and mobility impairments in people with Alzheimer disease by comparing their performance with that of older people without cognitive impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five community-dwelling people with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease and a comparison group of 25 cognitively intact age- and sex-matched people completed a comprehensive balance and mobility assessment. This included computerized posturography measures of static and dynamic balance under various conditions, clinical balance, and mobility measures, and measures of falls and falls risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of falls risk was higher in people with Alzheimer disease. Standing balance in people with Alzheimer disease was significantly impaired across a range of static and dynamic balance conditions. Activity level, gait, and mobility measures were also impaired, particularly turning and dual tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the study highlight the value of including balance screening as a routine component of early dementia assessment. This would allow for the early detection of balance dysfunction and the introduction of balance retraining before impairments progress to more advanced levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Plaiwan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suttanon
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Logiudice
authors.forename: Nicola T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dodd
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis