title: Evaluation of postural balance in mild cognitive impairment through a three-dimensional electromagnetic system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elderly people with cognitive impairment are at greater risk for falls; thus, an understanding of the earliest stages of cognitive decline is necessary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare postural balance between elderly people with and without mild cognitive impairment using a three-dimensional system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty elderly people with mild cognitive impairment and thirty healthy elderly subjects were selected. Static posturography was performed using three-dimensional electromagnetic equipment and the following parameters were evaluated: maximum displacement, mean speed and total trajectory. Open- and closed-eye stabilometric variable comparisons between groups and within each group were carried out, and a relationship between the Mini Mental State Examination and the total trajectory of all elderly subjects was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis among open- and closed-eye conditions showed a significant difference in maximum anteroposterior displacement in the control group and a significant difference in all stabilometric variables in the mild cognitive impairment group. A significant difference between the groups in all variables in the closed-eye condition was observed. There was a strong correlation between cognitive performance and total trajectory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluations showed decrease in balance in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. Presence of anteroposterior displacement can be an early sign of postural control impairment, and the evaluation with visual restriction can be useful in detecting small postural instabilities.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: anapoborges@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Oliveira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia (UESB), Jequié, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Ailton Oliveira
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Master's and Doctorate Program in Health Promotion, Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zaia
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Physics and Mathematics, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Adilton Oliveira
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Osvaldo Massaiti
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Takayanagui
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Comprometimento cognitivo leve; Elderly; Equilíbrio postural; Idoso; Mild cognitive impairment; Postural balance; Privação sensorial; Sensory deprivation