Why the study?
While cognition influences balance, the specific cognitive domain most strongly associated with static balance, and its ability to predict balance performance independently of age, remains unclear.
Global cognition and inhibition are significant independent predictors of static balance in healthy older adults, suggesting their potential utility in fall risk assessments.
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May support cognitive screening alongside balance assessment in older adults; leaves open causal direction and prospective fall prediction.
Background and Objectives Falls are a critical public health issue, with postural balance being key to prevention. While cognition is known to influence balance, the cognitive domain most strongly associated with static balance, and its ability to predict balance performance independently of age, remains unclear. Research Design and Methods Sixty-two healthy older adults (mean age 74 ± 8.6 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Static balance was assessed using the Sway Medical App, and cognitive domains were evaluated through global cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination), inhibition (Stroop test), working memory (N-back test), and processing speed (Deary-Liewald test). Hierarchical multiple regression was applied to analyse cognitive predictors of static balance. Results Higher cognitive performance correlated with better balance. Global cognition and inhibition significantly predicted static balance beyond age, while processing speed and working memory were not significant predictors. Discussion and Implications Global cognition and inhibition may serve as biomarkers for early detection of balance impairments. Incorporating assessments of global cognition and inhibition into balance evaluations could guide targeted interventions to reduce fall risks and enhance mobility in older adults.
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Divandari et al. (2025) studied this question.
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