Increase in falls could be an early sign of Alzheimer's

The research was presented at the International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease today (Sunday 17 July 2011).

As part of the study, by Washington University, Missouri, 114 older adults recorded how many times they fell. Cerebrospinal fluid and PiB PET scans were also carried out to record levels of tau in the spinal fluid and amyloid-beta in the brain - two common hallmarks of Alzheimer's. Over five months, the study found that people with amyloid-beta build up in the brain were 5.36 times more likely to experience a fall than healthy older adults.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'Alzheimer's does not just affect a person's memory. It can also affect many other things including spatial awareness, co-ordination and balance. This relatively small study backs up what we already know that fall risk increases in early stages of dementia. However, it does little to move us forward in our understanding.'Around 60 per cent of people with dementia never receive a diagnosis. A diagnosis is essential to enable people to access help, support and treatments and to plan for the future. If people are worried about their coordination, spatial awareness, or other symptoms linked to dementia it is important they speak to their GP.

Professor Clive Ballard
Director of Research
Alzheimer's Society

Research Reference: Risk of falls among older adults with preclinical Alzheimer's by Susan Stark