Falls and TBI in the Elderly

Dr. Bermanand Dr. Boguskisummarized the risk factors for falls in the elderly and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Risk factors for falls include lower body weakness; past history of a fall; difficulties with walking and balance; use of medicines, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants and medicines affect balance; vision problems; cognitive impairment; history of stroke; orthostatic hypotension; foot pain or poor footwear; home hazards or dangers such as broken or uneven steps and throw rugs or clutter that can be tripped over. Risk factors for TBI include physiologic and physiologic brain changes (brain shrinkage and more fragile blood vessels with age, impaired cerebral arterial autoregulation and vasoreactivity to pCO2 or metabolic changes), medical conditions and/or medications that increase the risk of falls, impaired cognitive dysfunction, anticoagulants, more common delayed deterioration, as well as sensitivity to medications that acts centrally. Source: https://www.medpagetoday.com/