Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Older individuals who have recently suffered a fall are at heightened risk for decline in several domains over the near future (i.e., within 1-3 years). Fallers are especially at risk of becoming less physically-active, which may in turn exacerbate physical and mental decline. Thus, it is important to determine the factors that lead some older fallers to become less active and other fallers to maintain physical activity. Executive function refers to the cognitive processes important for goal-oriented behaviour, and may be important to maintenance of various health behaviours, including physical activity, during aging. The current study followed older fallers over a one-year period by assessing physical activity and executive function at baseline and one-year follow-up. Deterioration of executive function co-occurred with reductions in physical activity.The current results suggest that deficits in executive function may be marker for decline in physical activity among older fallers, and that interventions designed for older fallers should include modules to improve executive function. Such targeted interventions could improve health outcomes and wellbeing for this vulnerable population.