Injury after a fall can be an early warning sign dementia in older adults.

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

“This study quantifies a diagnostic model that geriatricians and primary care providers have recognized for some time—falls often precede a diagnosis of dementia, and older adults who experience a fall should undergo cognitive screening,” co-author Molly P. Jarman, PhD., assistant director of the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, Fox News Digital said.

PREVENT HAZARDOUS FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS BY TAKING KEY STEPS

Boston researchers analyzed U.S. Medicare claims data for more than two million adults age 66 and older who were diagnosed with a traumatic injury that resulted in an emergency department visit or hospitalization from 2014 to 2015.

Half of the injuries were the result of falls.

Injury after a fall may be an early warning sign of dementia in older adults, according to a new study. (iStock)

The researchers also reviewed follow-up data for at least one year after the injury, tracking how often the participants were diagnosed with dementia.

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older.

Among patients who experienced a fall, 10.6% were diagnosed with some type of dementia within a year.

The study also looked at data from older adults who sustained an injury from an event other than a fall, such as a vehicle collision.

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“Among older adults with other types of injuries, only 6.1 percent were later diagnosed with dementia,” Jarman noted.

After taking into account variables that could influence the results — such as demographics, injury severity, and medical problems — patients with fall injuries were 20% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia compared to those with other types of injuries.

Do falls cause dementia?

About one in 10 U.S. adults over age 65 has dementia, previous research shows.

One of the main limitations of the research is that it only looked at time records – so it’s not clear whether falls cause dementia or whether older adults who are at risk of dementia are more likely to experience a fall, according to the researchers.

About one in 10 U.S. adults over age 65 has dementia, previous research shows. (iStock)

“We think the latter is more likely — older adults with mild cognitive impairment or undiagnosed dementia may be more likely to experience a fall because of changes in their gait and balance,” Jarman told Fox News Digital.

“Falling then causes them to have more interaction with the health system, which leads to their diagnosis of dementia.”

“When we hear chest pain, we think heart attack – and when we hear fall, we should think dementia risk.”

Michael S. Okun, MD, medical advisor to the Parkinson Foundation and director of the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida Health, confirmed that when older adults begin to fall, it could be a potential warning symptom.

He was not part of the study.

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“When, for example, we hear chest pains, we think heart attack — and similarly, when we hear falls, we should think about the risk of dementia,” Okun told Fox News Digital.

“A good rule of thumb would be to initiate a mental health screening as soon as possible for a new fall.”

Paradigm shift

Performance is not a routine practice cognitive screening for older adults who suffers a fall, according to Jarman.

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

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

Clinicians could begin screening during the initial hospitalization after a fall, Jarman suggested, and the patient’s primary care physician or a geriatrician could then perform a follow-up screening.

“The idea that an older person only needs physical therapy after a fall is wrong,” Okun added.

“We should teach people the value of examining brain function in those who fall.”

4 steps to prevent falls

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

An older adult falls roughly every second of every day, with one in four reporting falling every year, the same source states.

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

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

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

Most falls occur because of a combination of risk factors — and the more risk factors someone has, the more likely a fall is, the CDC warns.

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The agency recommends four practices to prevent falls.

1. Review your risk

First, have an honest discussion with your healthcare provider about your personal fall risk, the CDC recommends.

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This also includes reviewing all of your medications if there is any chance that they could make you feel drowsy or dizzy.

2. Keep moving

Regular exerciseslike Tai Chi, helps improve balance and strengthen the legs to reduce the chance of falling.

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

3. Seek medical attention

The CDC recommends getting your eyes and feet checked every year and talking to your health care provider about proper footwear.

Regular exercise helps improve balance and strengthen the legs to reduce the chances of falling. (iStock)

Some people may have undiagnosed vision problemssuch as glaucoma or cataracts, which can increase the risk of falling, the same source said.

4. Do a home inspection

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

This includes clearing clutter, using double-sided tape to prevent rugs from slipping, placing items in cabinets that can be easily reached without a chair, installing grab bars near and inside tubs, and placing non-slip mats on shower floors.

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People should also consider using a night light to guide them to the bathroom and ensure the entire home has adequate lighting, the CDC advised.