Reducing Fall Risk with Combined Motor and Cognitive Training in Elderly Fallers

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Falls are a significant health concern for the elderly, necessitating effective preventative measures.
• Current interventions primarily focus on motor training for balance and strength.
• Executive functions are linked to gait abnormalities, suggesting potential for cognitive-based fall prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a motor intervention and a cognitive intervention for fall prevention in older adults.
• To assess the impact of combining motor training with executive function training (EFt).
• To determine the efficacy of interventions developed within the I-DONT-FALL project.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 481 elderly individuals at risk of falls.
• Interventions included 24 one-hour sessions of motor treatment (pure motor or mixed with EFt) via an i-Walker.
• Cognitive treatment (pure EFt or mixed with motor training) was delivered via a touch-screen computer.

Main Results:

• Motor treatment, especially when combined with EFt, showed a significant reduction in fear of falling.
• The observed effect on fear of falling was statistically significant (p = 0.009) but of limited magnitude (ES -0.25).
• The reduction in fear of falling was primarily observed in the period immediately following the intervention.

Conclusions:

• Motor treatment enhanced by executive function training (EFt) demonstrates effectiveness in mitigating fear of falling.
• This combined approach offers a potential strategy for improving fall prevention in the elderly population.
• Further research may explore long-term effects and optimal combinations of motor and cognitive training.