Cognitive decline may increase an older person’s risk for falling. As a result of an injury, that could speed up the progression of dementia, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed Medicare data from more than 2.4 million older adults who had a traumatic injury, including falls. Then they followed up on the participants a year later. The report was published Sept. 30 in JAMA Network Open.
Half of the participants had an injury resulting from a fall. Of those, 10.6% were diagnosed with dementia during the first year after the fall, the study found. Falls increased the risk of a future dementia diagnosis by 21%, the data showed.
The findings suggest that older adults who go to the hospital for care after a fall should have cognitive screening either in the emergency room or in the hospital. This could help people get care sooner.
The team wasn’t sure whether a culprit behind the falls was having undiagnosed cognitive decline, or if the falls sped up cognitive decline.
“The relationship between falls and dementia appears to be a two-way street,” said Molly Jarman, PhD, senior author and deputy director of the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Falls are the most common reason why people are admitted to trauma centers. They’re also the top cause of injury among older adults.
“Thus, falls may be able to act as precursor events that can help us identify people who need further cognitive screening,” Jarman said in a statement.
“We treat the injuries, provide rehabilitation, but often overlook the underlying risk factors that contribute to falls, despite a growing body of evidence suggesting a link between falls and cognitive decline,” Alexander Ordoobadi, MD, an author and surgical resident at Brigham and Women’s, said in the same statement.
“Our study highlights the opportunity to intervene early and the need for more clinicians who can provide comprehensive care for older adults,” Ordoobadi said.
