Aging
The Relationship Between Fall History and Early-Onset Dementia: A 10-Year Prospective Cohort Study Yu-Kai Lin* Yu-Kai Lin Wan-Yu Lin Siang-Chen Chen
Introduction: The prevalence of falls among older adults is increasing as the population ages. While previous studies have focused primarily on the physiological health effects, such as trauma, fractures, and sprains, fewer have examined the psychological effects of falls. The aim of our study is to explore the causal relationship between fall experiences and the risk of developing early-onset dementia among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods: A prospective cohort study is conducted using health examination data of older adults in Taipei City from 2013 to 2022. The study includes individuals aged 65 and above who have no cognitive impairment or dementia at baseline and are followed until the end of the study. Falls is assessed by asking the participants about the number of falls they experienced in the past six months, while early dementia is identified using the Ascertain Dementia (AD-8) scale. Cox regression hazard model is adopted to examine the causal risk of early dementia associated with different frequencies of falls.
Results: The results indicate that, compared to older adults without history of falls in the past half year, the risk of developing early dementia increases with the frequency of falls. Older people who report falling once or twice in the past six months have 1.54-fold (95% CI: 1.29-1.84) and 2.23-fold (95% CI: 1.51-3.29) higher risk of developing early dementia, respectively, compared to those without fall history. Furthermore, the elevated risk is particularly significant among females, singles, individuals with older age, lower education level, and no regular exercise habit.
Discussion: Falls and dementia are both critical health concerns among the older population, with both physical and psychological consequences that should not be overlooked. It is important for governments and healthcare institutions to enhance efforts in promoting fall prevention strategies and raising awareness among older adults and their primary caregivers.