Researchers may have found a new clinical marker for dementia risk

• A new review of studies from China indicates that a single fall after the age of 40 could increase future dementia risk by over 20 per cent.
• For individuals experiencing multiple falls after 40, the future risk could rise by up to 74 per cent, according to scientists from the Changchun University of Chinese Medicine.
• Researchers suggest that recurrent falls may serve as an early clinical marker for identifying individuals at higher risk of dementia, as published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
• The study, which analysed nearly three million participants, found a dose-response relationship, meaning the frequency of falls correlates with an increased dementia risk.
• Scientists propose several mechanisms, including falls directly causing cognitive decline, pre-existing neurodegeneration leading to falls, or a vicious cycle where fear of falling reduces protective physical and social activities.

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Study finds falls after age of 40 could increase future dementia risk