
29 March 2023
Could exercise for the brain reduce risk of falling?
Can training of cognitive functions reduce the risk of elderly people falling? This is something researchers in physiotherapy at Luleå University of Technology want to find out. In the Human Movement Science Lab, both cognitive ability and balance in the elderly are examined, as well as how these can be affected through exercise programs.
It is known that those suffering from cognitive impairment, for example dementia, are more likely to fall. But research is lacking on the connection between the brain's cognitive functions and balance. Now researchers want to find out more about what the connection looks like in the elderly. In addition, the project will investigate whether a training program that includes both training of balance and brain functions improves the persons results.
“We want to find out if we see further positive effects from the training by adding cognitive ability training,” says Jimmy Falk, PhD student in physiotherapy at Luleå University of Technology.
Falling accidents are common among the elderly. Around one in three over 65 fall each year, which can have major consequences.
“In addition to physical injuries and deaths, falling accidents also cause fear in many elderly people. There is a risk of a downward spiral where fear of falling leads to inactivity and isolation,” says Jimmy Falk.
Tests in the Human Movement Science Lab
50 persons over 70 will be tested in the movement lab. The cognitive tests are a general test of the brain's functions, and also specialized tests for so-called executive functions – for example working memory, the ability to switch focus between different tasks and impulce control. Balance is tested in different ways, for example continuous balance – like standing on one leg, and reactive balance – reacting to change.
Among the participants who themselves experienced that their cognitive ability has declined, 20 people will be included in the next step, an intervention study. During eight weeks, half of the participants train balance, and the other half both balance and cognition. After the training program, they return to the movement lab to test the effect of the training.
Potential improvement of fall prevention
The studies are part of Jimmy Falk's doctoral thesis. Data will be collected during spring 2023 and will then be analyzed. Depending on the results, the research could lead to an improved way of assessing and preventing the risk of elderly people falling.
“Perhaps fall risk assessments could be supplemented with cognitive tests, and perhaps fall prevention training could include elements of cognitive training if we see a positive effect. This is a fairly unexplored area, even though it affects a lot of people,” says Jimmy Falk.
Researchers are looking for more people over the age of 70 who want to participate in the study – both people who experience cognitive loss, such as poor memory, and participants who do not.
Contact
Jimmy Falk
- Lecturer
- 0920-492902
- jimmy.falk@ltu.se
- Jimmy Falk
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