Relationship between cognitive domains, dynamic postural stability and fall risk in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study

Chaw, Jade Wern (2024) Relationship between cognitive domains, dynamic postural stability and fall risk in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Background: Malaysia is approaching the status of an aging nation leading to balance deficits and falls risk increase, particularly in population of MCI. Fall contributed to 44% of minor injuries among elderly. While the relationship between the cognitive domains __visuospatial skills, and attention __ dynamic postural stability and fall risk remains unclear, particularly in those with MCI. Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between the cognitive domains, dynamic postural instability and fall risk and compare which cognitive domains will have a greater impact on dynamic postural stability and fall risk in elderly with MCI. It is hypothesized that both cognitive domains are related to dynamic postural stability and fall risk in this population. Methods: The study design is pilot cross-sectional study. The targeted population was the community-dwelling older and elderly at nursing home, who are aged 60 and above living within Klang Valley, Selangor. 32 participants were included in this study as identified through the MoCA with a score between 18-25. The participants were divided into two groups, 15 people with attention deficit (TMT-A) and 17 people with visuospatial deficit (CDT). Both groups performed TUG to evaluate the dynamic postural stability and fall risk. Results: The total number of participants recruited were 32 elderly with MCI. The elderly consist of 53.1% male and 46.9% female which have the mean age of 72.78±6.973. No significant association was found for attention domain (p=0.444), while a significant association for visuospatial domain (p=0.038) between dynamic postural stability and fall risk. The visuospatial domain had a greater impact on dynamic postural stability and fall risk among elderly with MCI compared to the attention domain with the Cramer’s V value of 0.498 and 0.170 respectively. Conclusion: In general, the study found no significant association for attention domain, but there was a statistically significant association for visuospatial domain between dynamic postural stability and fall risk among elderly with MCI. Furthermore, the study found that visuospatial domain was the key domain to maintain dynamic postural stability and fall risk among elderly with MCI. Keywords: cognitive impairment, cognitive domains, fall risk, postural stability, elderly

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