Preventing Falls in Older Adults With Cognitive Frailty

Phase

N/A

Condition

Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease

Memory Problems

Treatment

Education Session

Balance and Strength Training Exercises with Health Coaching

Clinical Study ID

NCT06854731

H23-01584

Ages 65-89
All Genders
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

The Problem: The proposed trial will address the problem of how to effectively prevent subsequent falls in community-dwelling cognitively frail older adults with a history of falls.

Primary Question: In community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty and a history of falls, can a home-based exercise program with behavioural change techniques significantly reduce falls vs. health education (i.e., control; CON)?

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

We will include individuals who: 1) are aged 70 to 89 years*; 2) live in GreaterVancouver; 3) are community-dwelling (i.e., not residing in a nursing home orextended care unit); 4) experienced a non-syncopal fall in the prior 12 months; 5)scored < 9/12 on the SPPB; 6) have subjective cognitive complaints based oninterview; 7) scored 18-25/30 on the MoCA; 8) are able to walk independently; use ofcane is acceptable; 9) are able to safely engage in exercise as indicated by thePhysical Activity Readiness Questionnaire Plus (PAR-Q+) and confirmed by theirphysician; 10) have internet at home; and 11) are able to provide written informedconsent.
The age maximum of 89 was set due to the increased risk of significant adversehealth outcomes cognitively frail older adults face. As this population has anincreased risk of falls, functional disability with loss of independence,hospitalization, and death, setting an age maximum aims to increase thelikelihood that participants will be able to complete the 18-month studywithout interruptions due to health complications. This age limit has beenreviewed and approved by CIHR.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

We will exclude those who are: 1) diagnosed with dementia, as measured by a ClinicalDementia Rating (CDR) score above 0.5, a neurodegenerative disease, or stroke; 2)self-report engaging in strength training and/or balance training exercises > 2times per week, in the prior 3 months; or 3) unable to understand, speak, and readEnglish proficiently.

Study Design

Education Session

May 15, 2025

December 31, 2029

Study Description

Rationale: Falls are a significant cause of functional decline and often a sentinel event. Older adults with cognitive frailty - those with concurrent physical frailty and mild cognitive impairment - are at particular risk for falls. Notably, falls can cause a sudden and severe change in their health state from one of independence to one of dependence. Thus, effective falls prevention strategies need to be identified for older adults with cognitive frailty.

The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) - a physical therapist (PT) delivered home-based exercise program - is an evidence-based falls prevention program for community-dwelling older adults. Our pilot data show the OEP vs. usually care significantly reduced subsequent falls in 192 community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty and a history of falls; the incident rate ratio was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.43-0.98; P = .042). These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in a rigorously designed RCT powered for falls in older adults with cognitive frailty; none exist to date.

We also observed lower OEP adherence among older adults with cognitive frailty vs. those without cognitive frailty. Thus, strategies to support adherence must be considered in RCTs of exercise to prevent falls in this high-risk population. Evidence-based strategies include health coaching.

Thus, we propose a 12-month multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) in older adults with cognitive frailty and a history of falls to assess the efficacy of the OEP combined with health coaching (i.e., OEP+) to prevent falls.

Primary Question: In community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty and a history of falls, can the OEP+ significantly reduce falls vs. health education (i.e., control; CON)?

Secondary Questions: 1) What are additional benefits of the OEP+ vs. CON? 2) Do the benefits of OEP+ persist 6 months post cessation? 3) Can the OEP+ reduce falls or improve quality of life at similar or lower costs vs. CON?

Methods: A 12-month assessor-blinded, multi-site RCT, with a 6-month follow-up, in older adults, with cognitive frailty - defined by a Short Physical Performance Battery score < 9/12 and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score between 18-25/30 - and a history of falls. Participants will be randomized to either: a) OEP+ or b) CON. The OEP+ intervention will include Brief Action Planning-based health coaching. The CON group will include monthly interactive education sessions via Zoom. Measurement will occur at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months, with falls tracked daily.

Connect with a study center

Centre for Aging SMART at VCH, University of BC
Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z1M9
Canada
Site Not Available
Centre for Aging SMART at VCH, University of BC
Vancouver 6173331, British Columbia 5909050 V5Z1M9
Canada
Active - Recruiting

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