Interventions incorporating physical and cognitive elements to reduce falls risk in cognitively impaired older adults: a systematic review protocol.

Abstract

REVIEW QUESTION / OBJECTIVE The objective of this review is to identify the effectiveness of combined cognitive and physical interventions on the risk of falls in cognitively impaired older adults. INCLUSION CRITERIA Types of participants Older persons who are 65 years or older will be included. Studies where the majority of participants have been indicated through mean ages and standard deviations will also be eligible for inclusion. Participants who have been diagnosed or identified as having a cognitive impairment will be included in this review. The participants will be characterized as having a cognitive impairment through: 1. Diagnosis of a dementia or cognitive impairment or other condition which directly results in reduced cognition. 2. Reduced Mini Mental State Examination or other such global assessment of cognition, e.g. through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Participants will not be limited by dementia diagnosis (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, vascular, mild cognitive impairment), but their cognitive impairment must be acquired and progressive in nature. Studies with a population of older adults with an increased risk of falls will be considered but will only be included if more than 75% of the total sample has reduced cognition identified in the criteria above. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest This review will consider publications that describe multifactorial or multiple interventions where a physical and cognitive element has been noted by the authors or reviewers. It is the aim of this review to capture studies which have a combined physical and cognitive element in the intervention; however studies which TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS