What is it about?

Persons with cognitive impairment have problems to make correct decisions. We have analysed for the first time whether this has concequences for their risk of falling comparing their objective risk as measured by established methods and their subjective evaluation. Interestingly cognitive impairment had a limited influence while psychological issues such as fear of falling were more important for a mismatch.

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Why is it important?

To find out whether subjective and objective rating of own risk of falling match in persons with cognitive impairment is important, as a mismatch may explain the very high risk of falling in these persons. Based on such knowledge tailored interventions can be developped to help reduce this risk.

Perspectives

The question why people with cognitive impairment or dementai fall more often is interesting me for a long time as no clear answer has yet been found. Results of this study may help to understand this special risk but also may be encouraging as remaining ressources have been documented in this vulnerable population which may help to develop new effective fall prevention interventions.

Klaus Hauer
Bethanien hospital geraitric center at the Heidelberg university

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Mismatch of Subjective and Objective Risk of Falling in Patients with Dementia, Journal of Alzheimer s Disease, November 2020, IOS Press,
DOI: 10.3233/jad-200572.
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