In a retrospective study of Medicare claims data, researchers found dementia was more frequently diagnosed within one year of a fall compared to other types of injuries. Key takeaways In a retrospective cohort study involving more than 2 million older adults who sustained an injury, 10.6% of patients who experienced a fall were subsequently diagnosed with dementia.
Compared to other types of injuries, falls were associated with a 21% increased risk for future dementia diagnosis . Findings support implementing cognitive screenings for older adults who have experienced a fall resulting in an emergency room visit or hospital admission. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, have published new results showing that among older adults who sustained a traumatic injury, those who experienced falls were more likely to be subsequently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
To improve the early identification of dementia, the researchers recommend implementing cognitive screenings in older adults who experience an injurious fall that results in either an emergency department visit or admission to the hospital. Results are published in JAMA Network Open. "I often see patients admitted after falls, which are among the most common reasons for trauma center admissions and can lead to severe injuries.
This raises an important question: Why are these falls happening in the first place?" said first auth.