Abstract
Objectives
Identifying risk factors for falls can improve outcomes in older patients without
cognitive decline. Yet this has not been demonstrated in older people with mild cognitive
impairment (MCI). We therefore sought to better identify risk factors for falls in
this particular group.
Design
The analysis was conducted on the MEMENTO cohort, which is a large, French, prospective
cohort.
Setting and Participants
We included older people (>65 years old) with MCI (defined from neuropsychological
scores) and a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score at baseline.
Methods
Fallers were defined as participants having fallen at least once during the study's
2-year follow-up period. We compared clinical, neuropsychological, and biological
data at baseline in fallers vs nonfallers. Additional analyses were performed on the
following subgroups: women, men, people aged ≥75 years.
Results
Of the 1416 people included in our study, 194 (13.5%) fell at least once. A bivariate
analysis showed that fallers were older, predominantly women, less independent in
activities of daily living, and more apathetic. Fallers performed less well in executive
function, balance, and gait tests. In a multivariable analysis, only age, gender,
the number of limitations in instrumental activities of daily living, and living alone
were significantly associated with falls. In a multivariable analysis of the subgroup
of oldest patients and of the subgroup of men, executive function was significantly
worse in fallers than in nonfallers.
Conclusion and Implications
Our results demonstrate that easily attainable risk factors can be used to identify
individuals with MCI with a higher risk of falls and for whom prevention could be
beneficial. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the role of mild executive
dysfunction in certain subgroups, such as men and oldest patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 19, 2023
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
Funding sources: The MEMENTO cohort study is sponsored by the Bordeaux University Hospital (coordination: CIC1401-EC, Bordeaux) and was funded through research grants from the Fondation Plan Alzheimer (Alzheimer Plan 2008–2012) and the French Ministry of Research and Higher Education (Plan Maladies Neurodégénératives [2016-2019]). This work was undertaken using resources on the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) Data Portal; the Medical Research Council supports DPUK through grant MR/L023784/2. The sponsor was not involved in conducting the study and analysis or interpretation of data.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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