TY - JOUR
PY - 2021//
TI - Recurrent but not single report of fear of falling predicts cognitive decline in community-residing older adults
JO - Aging and mental health
A1 - Kraut, Rebecca
A1 - Holtzer, Roee
SP - ePub
EP - ePub
VL - ePub
IS - ePub
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Literature regarding the association of fear of falling (FOF), a common concern in aging, and cognition is scarce. Moreover, whether frequency of FOF endorsement influences age-related cognitive decline has not been reported. Here we determined whether FOF status (no FOF, single-report FOF, recurrent FOF), predicted decline in global cognitive function (GCF), memory, and attention/executive functions.
METHODS: Participants were community-residing older adults (n = 421; mean age = 76.29 ± 6.48; %female = 56.06). FOF was assessed bimonthly through yes/no responses to "do you have a fear of falling?" during the first year of the study. Recurrent status required two or more FOF endorsements. GCF was assessed using Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS); composite scores were used to assess memory as well as attention/executive functions. Cognitive measures were administered annually for up to six years.
RESULTS: Stratification of the cohort by FOF status showed that 81 participants reported recurrent FOF, 60 participants endorsed FOF once and 280 participants reported no FOF. Linear mixed effects models revealed that compared to no FOF, recurrent FOF was associated with worse declines in GCF (estimate=-0.03, p=.006), memory (estimate=-0.04, p=.012) and attention/executive functions (estimate=-0.04, p=.006). Comparisons between single-report FOF and no FOF, however, were not significant.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that recurrent but not single-report FOF is a risk factor for cognitive decline in community-residing older adults.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1360-7863 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2021.1916878 ID - ref1 ER -