title: A lower prevalence of self-reported fear of falling is associated with memory decline among older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of a number of reports about various factors associated with the fear of falling (FoF) among older adults (such as age and physical function), the relationship between FoF and cognitive decline remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine which cognitive function is related with the prevalence of FoF in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 101 older adults (mean age 75.1 years; 48.5% males). Of these, 54 older adults (53.4%) were classified as the fear group on the basis of the presence of FoF. Age, gender, the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), fall history, the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised-Logical Memory I (WMS-LM I), the delayed memory test, digit symbol coding, digit span and verbal fluency were measured as potential relevant factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression analysis revealed that TUG [odds ratio (OR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.83; p = 0.004], WMS-LM I (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.07-1.35; p = 0.002) and fall history (OR 4.38, 95% CI 1.53-12.51; p = 0.006) were independently associated with FoF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that a lower prevalence of self-reported FoF is associated with memory decline among older adults. Insensitivity to FoF may be one of the characteristics of psychological change with memory decline.
authors.affiliation: Section for Health Promotion, Department of Health and Medical Care, Center for Development of Advanced Medicine for Dementia, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan. uemura@ncgg.go.jp
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Hyuma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makizako
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsumimoto
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D012307:Risk Factors