Eye movement, cognition of group home physical environment, and risk of falling in elderly persons with dementia of Alzheimer's type

Research Project

Project/Area Number	14570370
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Public health/Health science
Research Institution	Fukuoka University of Education (2003) Seinan Jo Gakuin University (2002)
Principal Investigator	NAKAMURA Takashi Fukuoka University of Education, Education, Associate Professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (70292505)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	KOBAYASHI Haruo Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Medical Welfare, Professor, 医療福祉学部, 教授 (00127763) YAKEYAMA Kazunori Seinan Jo Gakuin University, Health and Welfare, Associate Professor, 保健福祉学部, 助教授 (70331022) INAKI Mitsuharu Seinan Jo Gakuin University, Health and Welfare, Professor, 保健福祉学部, 教授 (20261787) HORIKAWA Etsuo Tohoku, University, College of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, 医療技術短期大学部, 助教授 (10155004)
Project Period (FY)	2002 – 2003
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2003)
Budget Amount *help	¥3,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000) Fiscal Year 2003: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000) Fiscal Year 2002: ¥2,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000)
Keywords	dementia of Alzheimer's type / gait / eve movement / fall / group home
Research Abstract	The aim of the present study is to measure simultaneously both eye movement and walking in the unrestricted condition in the daily life of elderly persons with dementia of Alzheimer's type, and to verify the degree to which their level of motor function and cognition of the group home physical environment or the subjects' living environment Influence the risk of falling and sustaining a possible fracture. The subjects of the study were 102 elderly persons with dementia of Alzheimer's type living in the community. The investigation was conducted from the standpoint of Individual factors Involved In the risk of falling and environmental factors. From using multiple logistical regression models, past falls were found to have a significant relation with the present/absent of silent infarctions, periventricular white matter lesions, the extra time the subject took to be aware of obstacles to walking along the way, lateness in taking note of them, and instability when walking. Next, a follow-up survey was conducted on 20 subjects with mild dementia of Alzheimer's type liying in 3 group homes, each with a different physical environment. The results showed that in safety-minded group homes continuous walking and moving when changing to different posture were very stable. Also, in well-laid out group homes with favorable environment stimuli, visual attention shifts with regard to space were predictable and tended to be performed smoothly. On the basis of the above mentioned results, It was suggested that an environment arranged so that things will be recognizable, safe and with good quality of life Is very important for the care of the elderly with dementia of Alzheimer's type in a group home setting.