title: Lower likelihood of falling at age 90+ is associated with daily exercise a quarter of a century earlier: The 90+ Study.
abstract: to explore the relationship between risk of falling at age 90+ and prior physical activity at age 60-70s.
  
  
  
  population-based cohort study (The 90+ Study).
  
  
  
  California retirement community.
  
  
  
  of 1596 cohort members, 1536 had both falls and prior activity data. Mean age = 94 years; 78% female; 99% Caucasian.
  
  
  
  time spent in active physical activity was self-reported in 1980s; medical history, medication, assistive devices, residence type, and falls (outcome) was collected in 2000s. Activity/fall relationships were assessed using logistic regression.
  
  
  
  falls were reported by 52% of participants, recurrent falls by 32%, and severe injury by 21% of fallers. In univariate analyses risk of falling at age 90+ was significantly related to medical history (heart disease, TIA/stroke, arthritis, vision disease, depression, dementia), medication use (hypnotics, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants), use of assistive devices (cane, walker, wheelchair), residence type (living with relatives, sheltered living), and source of information (self-report vs informant). Risks of falling and recurrent falls at age 90+ were 35-45% lower in those reporting 30+ minutes/day of active physical activity at age 60-70s compared with no activity. The odds ratio of falling was 0.65 (95% CI = 0.44-0.97) for 30-45 minutes/day and 0.64 (0.44-0.94) for 1+ hour/day adjusting for age, sex, medical history (stroke/TIA, vision disease, depression), use of assistive devices, and source of information.
  
  
  
  falls are extremely common among the oldest-old and a significant proportion lead to severe injury. This work is the first to show an association between exercise at age 60-70s and lower risk of falling at age 90+.
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine-Neurology, Irvine, California, United States.
authors.forename: Annlia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paganini-Hill
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine-Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Irvine, California, United States.
authors.forename: Dana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Greenia
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research Northwest Region, Portland, Oregon, United States.
authors.forename: Shawna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine-Neurology, Irvine, California, United States.
authors.forename: Seyed Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sajjadi
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine - Neurology, Irvine, California, United States.|University of California Irvine - Neurobiology and Behavior, Irvine, California, United States.
authors.forename: Claudia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kawas
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine - Neurology, Irvine, California, United States.|University of California Irvine-Epidemiology, Irvine, California, United States.
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Corrada
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002140:California; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Falls; cohort; exercise; older people; oldest-old; risk factors