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The relationship between executive function and falls and gait abnormalities in older adults: a systematic review
Kearney FC, Harwood RH, Gladman JR, Lincoln N, Masud T.. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 2013-05-23
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background/objectives Older adults with dementia have at least a twofold increased risk of falls. Multi-factorial interventions have failed to demonstrate a reduction in falls in this group. Improved understanding of specific cognitive factors and their relationship to gait, balance and falls is required. Methods Systematic searches of Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases from inception to April 2011 were conducted to identify prospective studies in older adults examining executive function and its relationship with falls, balance and gait abnormalities. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study populations, executive function measures and study outcomes. Results Of 8,985 abstracts identified, 14 studies met inclusion criteria. Eleven studies examined executive function and falls. The remaining studies examined executive function and gait speed decline. Nine studies examining executive function and falls found a relationship between poor executive function and increased fall risk. All 3 studies examining executive function and gait found an association between poor executive function and declines in gait speed. Impaired executive function was associated with more serious falling patterns. Conclusions Executive function was associated with falls and gait speed slowing in older adults. Future research should consider executive dysfunction as a training target for fall prevention, or as a factor mediating the failure of conventional fall prevention interventions.
Key findings
- Background/objectives Older adults with dementia have at least a twofold increased risk of falls.
- Results Of 8,985 abstracts identified, 14 studies met inclusion criteria.
- Impaired executive function was associated with more serious falling patterns.
- Conclusions Executive function was associated with falls and gait speed slowing in older adults.
Why it matters
This review found that poor executive function was linked to increased fall risk and slower gait speed in older adults. It concerns falls and walking, not treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders: journal h-index 149 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| 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 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 286 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 19.1 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 50 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Tahir Masud: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Nottingham: institution h-index 879 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 23712088) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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APA 7th
Kearney, F. C., Harwood, R. H., Gladman, JR., Lincoln, N., & Masud, T. (2013). The relationship between executive function and falls and gait abnormalities in older adults: a systematic review. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. https://doi.org/10.1159/000350031
Vancouver
Kearney FC, Harwood RH, Gladman JR, Lincoln N, Masud T. The relationship between executive function and falls and gait abnormalities in older adults: a systematic review. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. 2013. doi:10.1159/000350031. PMID: 23712088.
BibTeX
@article{kearney2013-23712088,
author = {Kearney, F. C. and Harwood, R. H. and Gladman, JR. and Lincoln, N. and Masud, T.},
title = {{The relationship between executive function and falls and gait abnormalities in older adults: a systematic review}},
journal = {Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1159/000350031},
pmid = {23712088},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000350031}
}
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