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Can Dual-Task Assessment Be Used to Discriminate Recurrent Fallers in Older Populations? A Systematic Review
Nora L Curtin1, Alexa Lauinger2, Frederic Montz1
1Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
|March 23, 2026
Summary
Dual-task assessment (DTA) effectively identifies older adults at high risk for recurrent falls. Longer completion times and increased gait variability during DTA are key indicators for fall risk screening.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Recurrent falls in older adults pose a significant public health challenge.
- Dual-task assessment (DTA) shows potential for evaluating fall risk.
- Identifying reliable DTA protocols is crucial for clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if dual-task assessment (DTA) can differentiate between older adults who are single/non-fallers and recurrent fallers.
- To pinpoint specific DTA protocols and outcome measures that are most predictive of recurrent falls.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review adhering to Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines.
- Searched multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, etc.) for studies on DTA in older adults and falls.
- Included 9 studies with 2472 community-dwelling adults (≥60 years) assessing DTA and fall history; excluded individuals with neurological impairments.
Main Results:
- Six studies (66.7%) confirmed DTA's ability to discriminate recurrent fallers from non-fallers.
- Gait variability (swing time variability) and longer DTA completion time were most predictive of recurrent falls.
- Meta-analysis was precluded by heterogeneity in DTA protocols.
Conclusions:
- Declines in DTA performance, especially completion time, are linked to recurrent falls in older adults.
- DTA completion time is a feasible screening tool for outpatient settings.
- Standardization of DTA methods is needed for broader clinical adoption and validation.
