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Falls in cognitive impairment and dementia
Shaw FE.. Clinics in geriatric medicine, 2002-05-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Older people with cognitive impairment and dementia are at increased risk for falls and subsequent adverse events. The most common risk factors for falls that are found specifically in patients with cognitive impairment and dementia are postural instability, medication, neurocardiovascular instability (particularly orthostatic hypotension), and environmental hazards. Based on data from studies in cognitively normal people who fall, modification of these risk factors may prevent falls in older people with cognitive impairment and dementia. Preliminary research in subjects with cognitive impairment and dementia suggests that physiotherapy may have a role in falls prevention. Additionally, risk-factor-targeted interventions may reduce the risk of falls in patients who have cardiovascular abnormalities and neurocardiovascular instability.
Key findings
- Older people with cognitive impairment and dementia are at increased risk for falls and subsequent adverse events.
- Preliminary research in subjects with cognitive impairment and dementia suggests that physiotherapy may have a role in falls prevention.
Why it matters
In people with cognitive impairment and dementia, the most common fall risk factors are postural instability, medication, neurocardiovascular instability (especially orthostatic hypotension), and environmental hazards. Preliminary research suggests physiotherapy may have a role in preventing falls, and targeting these risk factors may reduce falls in those with cardiovascular abnormalities and neurocardiovascular instability.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Clinics in geriatric medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Clinics in Geriatric Medicine: journal h-index 120 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2002 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 214 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.2 citations a year over 26 year(s) since 2002 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Fiona Shaw: h-index 14 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Birmingham: institution h-index 1,266 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12180241) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Shaw, F. E. (2002). Falls in cognitive impairment and dementia. Clinics in geriatric medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0690(02)00003-4
Vancouver
Shaw FE. Falls in cognitive impairment and dementia. Clinics in geriatric medicine. 2002. doi:10.1016/s0749-0690(02)00003-4. PMID: 12180241.
BibTeX
@article{shaw2002-12180241,
author = {Shaw, F. E.},
title = {{Falls in cognitive impairment and dementia}},
journal = {Clinics in geriatric medicine},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1016/s0749-0690(02)00003-4},
pmid = {12180241},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0690(02)00003-4}
}
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