We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Relationship between falls and stride length variability in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.
- Authors
Nakamura, Takashi; Meguro, Kenichi; Sasaki, Hidetada; Nakamura, T; Meguro, K; Sasaki, H
- Abstract
In this study, 97 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) in a nursing home were followed over a period of 2 years, and the relationship between falls and gait function was examined. The findings indicated that the number of fallers was significantly higher in moderate-stage SDAT patients than in the mild-stage patients. In the moderate-stage SDAT patients, walking speed and stride length, measured as indices to evaluate gait function, were significantly lower, and the stride length variability was significantly higher than in mild-stage patients. When comparing the gait indices of fallers and non-fallers by the severity of dementia, a significant difference was observed only in stride length variability. The gait abnormality associated with advanced severity in dementia is believed to be a factor affecting falling. In particular, stride length variability appeared to be an effective predictor of falling.
- Subjects
ALZHEIMER'S disease; ANALYSIS of variance; COMPARATIVE studies; ACCIDENTAL falls; GAIT in humans; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; NURSING care facilities; RESEARCH; EVALUATION research; RETROSPECTIVE studies; SEVERITY of illness index
- Publication
Gerontology, 1996, Vol 42, Issue 2, p108
- ISSN
0304-324X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1159/000213780