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Updated: May 9, 2025

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Falls and subsequent cognitive function in older adults in England and the USA, 2010-2020: a population-based,
Wenkai Kou1, Sailong Shi1, Jing Huang1
1West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P. R. China.
Introduction:
The understanding of the long-term cognitive consequences of falls remains insufficient. Our research aims to explore the association between falls and both global and domain-specific cognitive decline, utilizing nationally representative aging cohorts.
Methods:
We studied 13 652 individuals from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Falls were assessed based on self-reported incidents, categorized as no falls, a single fall, and multiple falls. Global cognitive z scores were calculated based on memory (immediate and delayed recall tests), executive function (animal fluency, serial sevens, and counting-backward tests), and orientation (date orientation test). Linear mixed-effects models examined associations between falls and cognitive outcomes after adjusting for potential confounders.
Results:
Individuals with a single fall (pooled β = -0.006; 95% CI, -0.012 to -0.001; P = 0.033) and those with multiple falls (pooled β = -0.021; 95% CI, -0.026 to -0.015; P < 0.001) experienced a faster decline in global cognitive z scores compared to those with no falls. Similar patterns were observed across memory, executive function, and orientation.
Discussion:
In this combined cohort study, including samples from ELSA and HRS, we discerned a marked association between the falls and both global and domain-specific cognitive decline. This article is part of a Special Collection on Cross-National Gerontology.
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