Polymodal Fall Prediction in Healthy Older Adults: Clinical, Laboratory, and Blood-Based Biomarkers

The goal of this observational study is to identify clinical, laboratory, and biological markers associated with past (and future falls) in healthy older adults aged 65 years and over. The main question it aims to answer is: Which clinical, functional, laboratory, and blood-based markers distinguish older adults who have fallen at least once during the previous 12 months from those who have not? Researchers will compare older adults with a history of falls with similar older adults without a history of falls. One hundred healthy older adults aged 65 and over, including both fallers and non-fallers, will be recruited for the study. Participants will complete questionnaires and undergo cognitive and physical tests, physical activity and sleep monitoring, gait, balance, muscle, sensory and vestibular assessments, brain and muscle imaging, and blood sampling. Blood samples will be used to study proteins and genetic variants that may be associated with falls. Participants will then be followed for one year using a smartphone-based application to report falls. The study is based on the hypothesis that a history of falling in an otherwise healthy older adult may be associated with subtle clinical, functional, and biological differences compared with a similar older adult without a history of falls. The findings may support the future development of more accurate and scalable tools for early fall-risk detection and targeted fall-prevention strategies. No direct therapeutic benefit is expected from participation.