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Perhaps the assumption that markets are still anchored by predictable economic policies needs to be challenged. For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, political volatility – once background noise – is potentially reshaping investment risk at a structural level.
Elderly fears about falling increase the likelihood of it occurring
Concerns – or “fears” – about falling are a strong predictor of future falls, according to a new international study led by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
In Australia, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalisations, responsible for 400 people being admitted to hospital daily. The impact of a fall can be life-changing, often resulting in long-term disability, loss of independence, social isolation and a premature move into residential aged care.
The systematic review and meta-analysis were led by NeuRA senior research scientist and director of innovation and translation at the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Kim Delbarere, in collaboration with the World Falls Guidelines working group.
The review’s findings confirmed that concerns about falling independently predicted future falls.
Many older Australians develop concerns about falling, and this concern itself increases their risk of future falls, Delbaere says.
“Our analysis found that older adults with high concerns about falling were significantly more likely to experience a fall. While we knew already having had prior falls was a risk factor for developing concerns about falling, this research found falling can be both a cause and consequence of falls.
“Importantly, this increased risk was observed even after accounting for key physical risk factors such as age, previous falls and balance impairments. This means that concerns about falling are not just a reflection of physical frailty but an independent factor influencing future falls.”
The review, which analysed 53 studies involving more than 75,000 participants, concluded that concerns about falling should be routinely included in fall-risk assessments of older adults.
“Concerns about falling are highly prevalent in older adults, affecting nearly one in two people by age 85,” she says. “They have been linked to reduced quality of life and independence, poor rehabilitation outcomes and increased risk of frailty, disability and admission to aged-care homes.
“The first step in prevention is starting the conversation. Many older adults don’t talk about their concerns unless asked, yet these concerns are real and can increase the risk of falling. By routinely discussing concerns about falling, healthcare professionals, families and caregivers can help older adults take early action to stay active and independent.”
The 2022 World Falls guidelines recommend assessing concerns about falling and Delbaere says these new findings provide stronger evidence to reinforce that recommendation.
These findings fill a critical evidence gap and further support the inclusion of concerns about falling in risk assessments in national and international guidelines.
“After identifying concerns about falling, it is important to support people with targeted, multi-disciplinary interventions such as exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy and occupational therapy, to help reduce their risk of falls,” she says.
“By identifying concerns about falling and other risk factors early and providing the right interventions, we can help older adults stay active, independent and confident in their mobility, ultimately improving their quality of life.”
Falls are not an inevitable part of ageing – they are preventable, she says. “With strong evidence showing up to 30 per cent of falls are preventable, it’s time for Australia to invest in a coordinated national strategy and make falls prevention a public health priority, not an afterthought.”
