Study links overactive bladder to increased falling risk in older adults

 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/937156

 

 News Release 7-Dec-2021
Incontinence can distract from balance and stability, say University of Alberta researchers.
Peer-Reviewed Publication
University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

 

A team of University of Alberta researchers focused on aging Albertans has found that urinary incontinence could be a contributing factor in falls among older adults.

In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, the researchers showed for the first time that the feeling of having to pee acts as a distracting factor that increases the risk of falling.

“Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in seniors, and many people don’t know that having bladder control problems makes you about twice as likely to fall over,” said William Gibson, lead author of the study and assistant professor of geriatric medicine.

 -----