Falls and Cognitive Impairment in Older Americans
Author Information
Author(s): Malatyali Ayse, Thiamwong Ladda, Cidav Tom, Xie Rui, Wiese Lisa
Primary Institution: University of Central Florida
Hypothesis
The study investigates the association between falls and cognitive impairment or dementia among older Americans.
Conclusion
Older adults who have fallen are more likely to experience cognitive impairment and dementia, with various risk factors influencing this relationship.
Supporting Evidence
- Older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia are at least twice as likely to fall compared to their cognitively normal peers.
- Participants who had fallen in the last two years were 15% more likely to have cognitive impairment and 34% more likely to have dementia.
- Increased number of falls was significantly associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.
- Having depressive symptoms was associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment and dementia.
- Participants living in rural areas were more likely to have cognitive impairment and dementia than those in urban areas.
- Living alone increased the odds of having cognitive impairment and dementia.
- Hispanic participants were 1.7 times more likely, and Black participants were 2.4 times more likely to have cognitive impairment.
- The likelihood of having dementia was higher in Hispanics and Blacks compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
Takeaway
If older people fall, they might have more trouble thinking and remembering things. Some groups, like Hispanics and Blacks, are even more at risk.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study used datasets from the 2020 interviews of the Health and Retirement Study.
Participant Demographics
Participants were older Americans aged over 64, including diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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