The Surprising Symptom That May Be an Early Sign of Dementia, According to New Study

One possible early symptom of dementia may have nothing to do with memory.

If you or a loved one has experienced a fall or lack of coordination, you may want to get a cognitive health screening, as a new study links falling with a significantly higher likelihood of a dementia diagnosis.

Related: New Study Reveals Surprising Factor That May Increase Dementia Risk

What Does the New Study Say About Falling and Dementia?

The study, published in late September 2024 in JAMA Network Open, examined medical records of 2.4 million patients ages 66 and older from 2014 through 2015 with follow-up data for at least one year. Researchers found that patients who were admitted to the emergency room after falling were 21% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia within one year than patients who went to the ER for other types of injuries or conditions.

The participants in the study did not have a prior history of dementia.

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“Our study highlights the opportunity to intervene early and the need for more clinicians who can provide comprehensive care for older adults,” Dr. Molly Jarman, PhD, MPH, senior study author and deputy director of the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigman and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said in a statement to The Daily Mail.

Related: The Simple, At-Home Test for Early Dementia Detection

How Does Falling Relate to Dementia?

Dr. Jarman says that the findings could aid doctors and caretakers in early interventions for dementia—and that the link between dementia and falling “appears to be was a two-way street.”

“Cognitive decline can increase the likelihood of falls, but trauma from those falls may also accelerate dementia’s progression and make a diagnosis more likely down the line,” she explained. “Thus, falls may be able to act as precursor events that can help us identify people who need further cognitive screening.” This is especially true if a patient hits or injures their head when falling.

Related: An Increasingly Common Environmental Issue Could Raise Your Dementia Risk By 21%, According to New Research

How Can People Who Fall Protect Themselves From Dementia?

Listen, no one expects you to wear a helmet 24/7, but there are ways to protect yourself and take charge of your brain health. These include:

• Keeping up with regular checkups with your primary care physician
• Managing your blood pressure
• Eating a brain-healthy diet
• Exercising
• Keeping your mind sharp
• Getting regular eye exams
• Quitting smoking (or never start!) and only drinking alcohol in moderation
• Getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night

One author of the study noted that cognitive screenings for patients after falls could lead to earlier diagnoses of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, he also acknowledged that there were systemic challenges to implementing the practice.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is the lack of ownership in the process of follow-up screening for cognitive impairment, because there may not be adequate time for these screenings in an emergency department or trauma center setting,” Dr. Alex Ordoobadi, MD, general surgery resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said. “Ideally, after an injury, older adults should receive follow up care with a primary care provider or geriatrician who can monitor their cognitive health and long-term functional recovery after the injury, but many older adults don’t have a regular primary care provider and lack access to a geriatrician.”

Related: A Neurologist and Alzheimer’s Expert Share Their Go-To Snacks for Brain Power

Sources

• Dr. Molly Jarman, PhD, MPH
• Dr. Alex Ordoobadi, MD
• Ordoobadi AJ, Dhanani H, Tulebaev SR, Salim A, Cooper Z, Jarman MP. “Risk of Dementia Diagnosis After Injurious Falls in Older Adults.” JAMA Network Open.