Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40457245›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Association between executive functions and fear of falling among people aged 80 years or older: a cross-sectional study.

Anna Awad, Anna Sundström, Felicia Gramner, Ursula Werneke, Annika Toots, Birgitta Olofsson, Albin Dahlin Almevall, Erik Rosendahl, Stefan Söderberg, Yngve Gustafson and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Anna AwadDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Sunderby Research Unit, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. anna.awad@umu.se.
Anna SundströmDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden and Department of Health, Education, and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
Felicia GramnerDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Sunderby Research Unit, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
Ursula WernekeDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Sunderby Research Unit, Umeå University, Psychiatry Umeå, Sweden.
Annika TootsDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Birgitta OlofssonDepartment of Nursing, Department of Diagnostics and Interventions, Umeå University, Umeå University, Umeå Orthopedics, Sweden.
Albin Dahlin AlmevallDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Erik RosendahlDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Stefan SöderbergDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Yngve GustafsonDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Johan NiklassonDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Sunderby Research Unit, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.

Funding

FORTE-the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare 2016-01074
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesFear of falling (FoF) is a common problem among older adults. It can lead to reduced quality of life and less physical activity, which increases fall risk. Earlier work has shown that FoF can be a manifestation of executive dysfunction in adults over 50 years, but studies on people over age 75 years are lacking. Executive functions (EFs) are cognitive functions associated with the frontal lobes and the prefrontal cortex. The aim of this study was to assess associations of EFs and FoF among people aged 80 years or older.

methodsThis cross-sectional study was based on data from the Northern Sweden Silver-MONICA study and included 434 participants aged 80 years or older. EFs were assessed with the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and FoF with the Falls Self-Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine associations among EF, FoF, and a comprehensive set of adjustment factors. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate associations of FES-I and the subitems of the FAB.

resultsEFs as measured by FAB were inversely associated with FoF (β = -0.23; 95% confidence interval, -0.42 to -0.03; p = 0.021), even after comprehensive adjustments. The FAB subitems measuring lexical fluency, inhibitory control, sustained attention, self-organization, motor programming, and planning also were inversely associated with FoF.

conclusionsLower EF is associated with higher FoF among people aged 80 years or older. This information is important for treating and preventing FoF in this population.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsExecutive FunctionFearAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSweden80 and overAgedExecutive functionFABFear of fallingFES-I

Identifiers

PMID40457245
PMCPMC12128494

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.