Visuospatial Ability and Memory Are Associated with Falls Risk in Older People A Population-Based Study

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.