Follow us on Google News (click on ☆)
This unsuspected connection between loss of balance and dementia is beginning to redefine how we approach the health of the elderly.
Falls among seniors are not just frequent accidents. They may be early warning signs of cognitive disorders. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital studied over 2 million cases of traumatic falls.
Their results, published in JAMA, show that an elderly person who has fallen is 21% more likely to develop dementia. Around 10% of patients who suffered a serious injury were diagnosed with dementia in the following year.
This correlation can be attributed to two major mechanisms. First, cognitive decline, especially in diseases like Alzheimer's, disrupts motor coordination and spatial perception. This makes it more difficult for elderly individuals to maintain their balance, thereby increasing the likelihood of falls.
Second, when these falls occur, the resulting trauma, whether a fracture or a simple bruise, creates significant stress on the body and brain. This physical stress could exacerbate pre-existing neuronal damage, thereby accelerating the progression of dementia and making a diagnosis more likely in a shorter period.
For specialists, this discovery opens new perspectives. Falls may become early indicators of dementia, thus facilitating quicker screening and appropriate care.
Researchers are now calling for the systematic inclusion of cognitive assessments for seniors after a fall. However, implementation remains complex, particularly due to disparities in access to healthcare.
Despite these challenges, the research underscores the importance of early dementia detection. Prompt care could slow the loss of autonomy associated with this neurodegenerative disease.