Prospective study on risk factors for falling in elderly persons with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Public Health

Background:

• Elderly individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience a disproportionately high risk of falls and related injuries.
• Existing research on fall risk factors primarily focuses on the general elderly population, leaving a knowledge gap for individuals with ID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the risk factors associated with falls in elderly individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.
• To identify specific personal and environmental factors contributing to fall risk in this understudied population.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal cohort study design was employed with 78 ambulatory participants (mean age 62.8 years) with mild to moderate ID.
• Baseline assessments included comprehensive evaluations, followed by a one-year prospective follow-up to record fall incidents.

Main Results:

• Falls occurred in 46% of participants, with a fall rate of 1.00 fall per person per year.
• Significant risk factors identified were mild ID severity, high physical activity, good visuo-motor capacity, good attentional focus, and high hyperactivity-impulsiveness.
• These factors collectively explained 56% of the variance in fall risk.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest a complex interplay of personal and environmental factors contributing to falls in elderly individuals with ID.
• Recommendations include developing multifactorial screening tools and tailored interventions to prevent falls in this population.