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Falling
in old age linked to altered blood flow in
brain
May 2010--ST. PAUL, Minn. – A new study shows that
altered blood flow in the brain due to high
blood pressure and other conditions may lead
to falls in elderly people.
The research will be published in the May
18, 2010, issue ofNeurology®, the
medical journal of the American Academy of
Neurology. Each year, unintentional falls in
the United States account for more than
16,000 deaths and 1.8 million emergency room
visits.
"At age 60, 85 percent of people have a
normal walking ability. However, by age 85,
only 18 percent of seniors can walk
normally," said study author Farzaneh A.
Sorond, MD, PhD, with Brigham and Women's
Hospital, Hebrew SeniorLife's Institute for
Aging Research and Harvard Medical School in
Boston and a member of the American Academy
of Neurology.
For the study, researchers followed 419
people age 65 or older. Ultrasound tests
were used to measure brain blood flow
response to carbon dioxide levels, a
standard test of blood vessel function in
the brain. Walking speed was measured by a
four-meter walking test. The seniors and
their caregivers reported any falls that
occurred over two years.
The study found that the 20 percent of
people who had the smallest blood flow
changes in the brain were at a 70 percent
higher risk of falling compared to the 20
percent of people who had the largest blood
flow changes in the brain. Those with the
slowest rate had an average of nearly 1.5
falls per year, compared to less than one
fall per year for those with the highest
rate.
"Our findings suggest there could be a new
strategy for preventing falls, such as daily
exercise and treatments for high blood
pressure, since blood pressure affects blood
flow in the brain and may cause falls," said
Sorond.
###
The study was supported by a donation from
Dr. Fatemeh Khosroshahi to the Brigham
Women's Hospital and by grants to Dr.
Farzaneh Sorond and Dr. Lewis A. Lipsitz
from the National Institute on Aging. The
study is part of MOBILIZE Boston
(Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living,
Intellect and Zest in the Elderly).
The American Academy of Neurology has a
guideline on how to identify people most at
risk for falling. For more information on
the guideline, visithttp://www.aan.com.
The American Academy of Neurology, an
association of more than 22,000 neurologists
and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated
to promoting the highest quality
patient-centered neurologic care. A
neurologist is a doctor with specialized
training in diagnosing, treating and
managing disorders of the brain and nervous
system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease,
epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple
sclerosis.
For more information about the American
Academy of Neurology, visithttp://www.aan.com.
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