Association between Fear of Falling and Visuospatial and Executive Functions in Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Cross-Sectional Study

IF 4.2 2区医学 Q2 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association Pub Date : 2025-03-05 DOI:10.1016/j.jamda.2025.105500

Seok-Yoon Son MD , Chae Yoon Kim HBSc , Baek-Yong Choi MD , Seung-Woo Ryoo MD , Kun-Hee Oh MD , Jin-Young Min PhD , Kyoung-Bok Min MD, PhD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Fear of falling (FOF) is a common health concern among older adults. Although cognitive impairment (CI) is a risk factor for FOF, the specific cognitive domains associated with FOF remain unclear. This study examined the association between FOF and domain-specific cognitive functions in older adults. We also analyzed whether this association varied based on CI, recent fall experience, or engagement in physical activity.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study analyzing the relationship between FOF and cognitive performance across various domains, with stratifications by CI status, fall history, and physical activity levels.

Setting and Participants

The study included 591 older adults with mild CI who visited the Veterans Health Service Medical Center in Korea.

Methods

Cognitive performance in attention, language, visuospatial, memory, and frontal or executive domains was assessed using the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-Core. FOF was measured using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale. Covariates, including demographics, physical health, and activity levels, were adjusted in the analyses.

Results

Higher FOF was significantly associated with lower performance in the visuospatial domain [Rey Complex Figure Test (β = 0.04, P = .002)] and the frontal or executive domain [Digit Symbol Coding (β = 0.05, P < .001), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (β = 0.02, P = .041), Trail Making Test (β = 0.06, P < .001), and Color Word Stroop Test (β = 0.04, P < .001)] after adjusting for covariates. The observed association was particularly evident in older adults with CI or those not engaging in moderate physical activity. The association was consistent regardless of fall history in the past year.

Conclusions and Implications

High FOF was associated with poor visuospatial and frontal or executive functions. These findings underscore the link between FOF and cognitive function, suggesting that specific cognition in visuospatial and frontal or executive domains may contribute to FOF development.

查看原文本刊更多论文

主观认知能力下降的老年人跌倒恐惧与视觉空间和执行功能之间的关系：一项横断面研究。

目的：害怕跌倒（FOF）是老年人常见的健康问题。虽然认知障碍（CI）是FOF的一个危险因素，但与FOF相关的具体认知领域尚不清楚。本研究考察了老年人FOF与特定领域认知功能之间的关系。我们还分析了这种关联是否因CI、最近跌倒经历或参与体育活动而变化。设计：这是一项横断面研究，通过CI状态、跌倒史和身体活动水平进行分层，分析FOF与不同领域认知表现之间的关系。环境和参与者：该研究包括591名访问韩国退伍军人健康服务医疗中心的轻度CI老年人。方法：使用首尔神经心理学筛选电池核心评估注意力、语言、视觉空间、记忆和额叶或执行领域的认知表现。FOF使用活动特定平衡信心量表进行测量。协变量，包括人口统计、身体健康和活动水平，在分析中进行了调整。结果：调整协变量后，高FOF与视觉空间域[Rey Complex Figure Test (β = 0.04, P = .002)]和额叶或执行域[数字符号编码（β = 0.05, P < .001），对照口语单词联想测试（β = 0.02, P = .041）， Trail Making Test (β = 0.06, P < .001), Color Word Stroop Test (β = 0.04, P < .001)]的表现显著相关。观察到的关联在患有CI的老年人或不从事适度体育活动的老年人中尤为明显。无论过去一年的秋季历史如何，该协会都是一致的。结论和意义：高FOF与视觉空间和额叶或执行功能差有关。这些发现强调了FOF与认知功能之间的联系，表明视觉空间和额叶或执行域的特定认知可能有助于FOF的发展。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 医学-老年医学

CiteScore

11.10

自引率

6.60%

发文量

472

审稿时长

44 days

期刊介绍： JAMDA, the official journal of AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, is a leading peer-reviewed publication that offers practical information and research geared towards healthcare professionals in the post-acute and long-term care fields. It is also a valuable resource for policy-makers, organizational leaders, educators, and advocates. The journal provides essential information for various healthcare professionals such as medical directors, attending physicians, nurses, consultant pharmacists, geriatric psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and others involved in providing, overseeing, and promoting quality