Neurological examination findings to predict limitations in mobility and falls in older persons without a history of neurological disease - 25/08/11
, Stefania Bandinelli, MD c, Chiara Cavazzini, MD c, Fulvio Lauretani, MD c, Annamaria Corsi, PhD c, Benedetta Bartali, RD c, Antonio Cherubini, MD, PhD d, Lenore Launer, PhD b, Jack M Guralnik, MD, PhD bAbstract |
Purpose |
To estimate the prevalence of neurological signs and their association with limitations in mobility and falls in a sample of older persons without known neurological disease.
Methods |
A neurologist examined 818 participants from the InCHIANTI study who were aged ≥65 years and who did not have cognitive impairment, treatment with neuroleptics, and a history of neurological disease. Mobility was assessed as walking speed and self-reported ability to walk at least 1 km without difficulty. Participants were asked to report falls that had occurred in the previous 12 months.
Results |
Less than 20% (160/818) of participants had no neurological signs. Neurological signs were more prevalent in older participants and those with impaired mobility. When all neurological signs were included in sex-and age-adjusted multivariate models, 10 were mutually independent correlates of poor mobility. After adjusting for age and sex, the number of neurological signs was associated with progressively slower walking speed (P <0.001), a higher probability of reported inability to walk 1 km (P <0.001), and a history of falls (P <0.05).
Conclusion |
Neurological signs are independent correlates of limitations in mobility and falls in older persons who have no clear history of neurological disease.
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 | Supported as a “targeted project” (ICS 110.1\RS97.71) by the Italian Ministry of Health and in part by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (Contracts 916413 and 821336). |
Vol 116 - N° 12
P. 807-815 - juin 2004 Retour au numéro
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