One particular injury may be a warning sign of dementia, according to a study.

Injuring yourself after a fall may be an early warning sign: Dementia in the elderly.

That’s according to a new study published last month in JAMA Network Open.

“This study measures study patterns among geriatricians. primary care provider Falls often precede a diagnosis of dementia, and older adults who have fallen should undergo cognitive testing.” “We found that the results of the study were not very effective,” said Molly P. Jarman, MD, co-author and associate director of the Brigham Center for Surgery and Public Health. Women’s Hospital and an assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School told Fox News Digital.

Take key steps to prevent dangerous falls in the elderly

Boston researchers analyzed US Medicare claims data from more than 2 million adults age 66 and older with the following diagnoses: traumatic injury This includes emergency room visits or hospital admissions that occurred from 2014 to 2015.

Half of the injuries were caused by falls.

The researchers also looked at follow-up data for at least a year after the injury to track how often participants were diagnosed with dementia.

Falls are the leading cause of injury in adults over 65 years of age.

Among patients who fell, 10.6% were diagnosed with some form of dementia within a year.

The study also analyzed data from older adults who suffered injuries from incidents other than falls. car accident.

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“Only 6.1% of older adults with other types of injuries were later diagnosed with depression,” Jarman said.

After considering variables that may affect outcomes, such as demographics, severity of injury, and underlying cause. medical problems – Patients with fall-related injuries were 20% more likely to be diagnosed with depression compared to patients with other types of injuries.

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Previous studies have shown that about 1 in 10 American adults over the age of 65 have dementia.

One of the main limitations of this study is that it only examined historical records. Therefore, it is not clear whether falls cause depression or whether old people cause depression. There is a risk of dementia According to researchers, you are more likely to fall.

“We think the latter is the most likely,” Jarman told Fox News Digital. “Older adults with moderate cognitive impairment or undiagnosed dementia may be more likely to fall because of changes in motion and balance,” he said.

“Falls can lead to more interactions with the healthcare system, leading to a dementia diagnosis. ”

“When you hear chest pain, you think of a heart attack. When you hear the sound of falling, you think of the risk of depression.

Dr. Michael S. Okun, medical advisor to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and director of the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health, said when older adults start to fall, it could be a warning sign.

He did not participate in the study.

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“For example, when we hear chest pain, we think: heart attack – Likewise, if you hear a fall, you should think about your risk of dementia,” Okun told Fox News Digital.

“A good rule of thumb is to start testing thinking skills as soon as possible for a new fall.”

a paradigm shift

It is not a normal practice to perform. A cognitive test for the elderly who experienced a fall, according to Jarman.

“We hope our findings will encourage clinicians to monitor the mental health of older adults who fall,” she said.

Patients with fall injuries were 20% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia compared to patients with other types of injuries. (iStock)

Jarman suggested that clinicians could begin testing during the first hospitalization after a fall, and that follow-up testing could be performed by the patient’s primary care physician or geriatrician.

“The idea that older people only need physical therapy after a fall is wrong,” Okun said.

“We need to teach people the value of testing brain activity in fallers.”

4 Steps to prevent falls

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury in adults age 65 and older.

Older adults fall every second of every day, with one in four falling every year, the same source said.

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“Falls can lead to serious injuries, even life-threatening injuries, in the elderly,” Jarman warned.

To prevent falls, the CDC recommends doing an inspection to make sure your home is safe. (iStock)

“Patients who fall are at high risk of losing independence.”

Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors, and the more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to fall, the CDC warns.

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The group recommends four practices to prevent falls:

1. Review the risks

First, the CDC recommends that you have an honest conversation with your health care provider about your individual fall risk.

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This includes a review of any medications that may be making you dizzy or light-headed.

2. Keep moving

regular exerciseExercise such as Tai Chi can improve your balance and make your legs stronger, reducing your chances of falling.

Experts recommend asking your doctor which treatment is best for you.

3. Get medical attention.

The CDC recommends that you get an annual eye and foot exam and talk to your health care provider about appropriate footwear.

Regular exercise can improve your balance and strengthen your legs, reducing your chances of falling. (iStock)

Some people may not have been tested vision problemsLike glaucoma or cataracts, it can increase the risk of falls, the same source noted.

4. Do a home inspection

Finally, the group recommends doing an inspection to make sure your home is safe.

This includes removing clutter, using double-sided tape to prevent rugs from slipping, placing items in easily accessible cabinets without stools step, installing grab bars around and inside the tub, and placing non-slip mats on the shower floor.

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People should also use nightlights to guide their way to the bathroom and ensure adequate lighting throughout the home, the CDC recommended.