Exercise linked to lower falls risk among people with cognitive frailty

People with cognitive frailty are at increased risk of falls, but the good news is that exercise helps improve physical function and reduce this risk, according to a study.

Researchers conducted a subgroup analysis of a 12-month, single-blind, randomized controlled trial, which involved 344 participants at least 70 years of age who had reported fall events within the past 12 months. These participants were randomly assigned to either 12 months of home-based exercise (n=172) or usual care (n=172).

The subgroup analysis included 192 participants (mean age 81.6 years, 67 percent female) with cognitive frailty, including 93 who underwent the home-based exercise intervention and 99 who received usual care.

The primary outcome was the frequency of self-reported falls over 12 months. Secondary outcomes included scores in the Short Physical Performance Battery and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Additional analysis was performed to examine whether greater adherence to the exercise intervention moderated treatment effects.

At 12 months, the incidence rate of falls was 35 percent lower among participants in the home-based exercise group than in those in the usual care group (1.59 vs 2.64 falls per person-year; incidence rate ratio, 0.65, 95 percent confidence interval, 0.42–0.98; p=0.042).

Notably, the Short Physical Performance Battery score significantly improved for participants who had greater adherence to the home-based exercise intervention (≥ vs <mean adherence: estimated mean difference, 0.94; p=0.022).

The findings highlight exercise as a promising strategy for reducing subsequent falls in people with cognitive frailty.