Does impaired cerebellar function contribute to risk of falls in seniors? A pilot study using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

sample. NCSS statistical software (www.ncss.com) was used for the analyses. Po.05 was taken as statistically significant. In 2003, the average age ! standard deviation was 75 ! 4 in both groups (P5.30). In 1974, men in the high-risk group had significantly higher body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides than the low-risk group. Except for the more-frequent history of diabetes mellitus in the high-risk group (P5.04), there were no significant differences in the history of diseases after 1974 between the groups. The mean summary z-scores of the neuropsychological assessment in 2003 are shown in the Figure 1. The cross-sectional study of Vogels et al. showed that neuropsychological status in general was best in healthy controls, worse in cardiac patients, and worst in patients with CHF. The longitudinal Helsinki Businessmen Study gives perspective to this result by showing that higher cardiovascular risk factor status in healthy middle-aged men predicted worse cognitive function 29 years later, in old age. This result in a socioeconomically homogenous cohort is in accordance with other studies showing long-term adverse effects of vascular risk factors on the development of dementia. The prevention of cognitive decline should thus be started early.