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Neurological Sciences
Published in: Neurological Sciences 6/2012

01-12-2012 | Review Article

The neurobiology of falls

Authors: Alfonso Fasano, Meir Plotnik, Francesco Bove, Alfredo Berardelli

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 6/2012

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Abstract

Falling is a major clinical problem; especially, in elderly population as it often leads to fractures, immobilization, poor quality of life and life-span reduction. Given the growing body of evidences on the physiopathology of balance disorders in humans, in recent years the approach of research on falls has completely changed and new instruments and new definitions have been formulated. Among them, the definition of “idiopathic faller” (i.e. no overt cause for falling in a given subject) represented a milestone in building the “science of falling”. This review deals with the new determinants of the neurobiology of falling: (1) the role of motor impairment and particularly of those “mild parkinsonian signs” frequently detectable in elderly subjects, (2) the role of executive and attentive resources when coping with obstacles, (3) the role of vascular lesions in “highest level gait disorder” (a condition tightly connected with senile gait, cautious gait and frailty), (4) the role of the failure of automaticity or inter-limbs coordination/symmetry during walking and such approach would definitely help the development of screening instrument for subjects at risk (still lacking in present days). This translational approach will lead to the development of specific therapeutic interventions.
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Metadata
Title
The neurobiology of falls
Authors
Alfonso Fasano
Meir Plotnik
Francesco Bove
Alfredo Berardelli
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
Neurological Sciences / Issue 6/2012
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1126-6

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