Background/Aims: Our purpose was to examine whether falls risk is associated with cognitive functions beyond executive function/attention and processing speed. Methods: Cognitive function was measured in a population-based sample (n = 300) of people aged 60-86 years. The physiological profile assessment was used to estimate the falls risk. Results: After adjusting for confounders, visual construction (p < 0.01), executive function/attention and memory (both p < 0.05) were independently associated with falls risk. The associations for visual construction (p < 0.01) and memory (p < 0.01) remained after adjusting for executive function/ attention. Conclusions: The neural basis underlying the associations of visuospatial function and memory with falls risk require further study. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Falls risk; Cognitive functions; Ageing; Population-based
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical sciences
Research Field:	Geriatrics and gerontology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health)
Objective Field:	Health related to ageing
UTAS Author:	Martin, K (Dr Kara Martin)
UTAS Author:	Thomson, R (Dr Russell Thomson)
UTAS Author:	Blizzard, L (Professor Leigh Blizzard)
UTAS Author:	Garry, M (Associate Professor Michael Garry)
UTAS Author:	Srikanth, V (Dr Velandai Srikanth)
ID Code:	59640
Year Published:	2009
Web of Science® Times Cited:	51
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2009-12-15
Last Modified:	2015-03-05
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