Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi · Sep 14, 2026

Relationships between Balance, Gait, and Falls in Dementia Subtypes: A Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study

By Mutlay F, Dost FS, Kaya D et al.

Aim:We aimed to examine the relationship between balance, gait, and falls across the most common dementia subtypes. Materials and Methods:A total of 260 older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with lewy bodies (DLB), behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, and normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), along with 338 cognitively healthy controls, were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study.Comprehensive geriatric assessment results, including comorbidities, medications, balance-gait analysis, and neurocognitive testing, were compared.Results: Statistical differences were observed between controls and dementia subtypes in sex, comorbidity burden, obesity, nutritional status, frailty, sarcopenia, slow walking speed, balance, postural instability (PI), falls, and use of walking assistive devices.DLB diagnosis was associated with falls, PI, and slow walking speed [odds ratio (OR): 4.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37-15.92;p=0.014;OR: 7.38, 95% CI: 1.67-32.50;p=0.008; and OR: 5.99, 95% CI: 1.66-21.53;p=0.006, respectively].NPH diagnosis was associated with falls, performance-oriented mobility assessment, PI, slow walking speed, and use of walking assistive devices (OR: 5.70, CI: 95% 1.83-17.70;p=0.003;OR: 0.82, CI: 95% 0.73-0.93;p<0.003;OR: 14.87, CI: 95% 3.64-60.68;p<0.001;OR: 13.37, CI: 95% 3.65-49.02;p<0.001; and OR: 4.92, CI: 95% 1.15-

doi.org/10.4274/nkmj.galenos.2026.32848Open accessPopulations