Table 1 Demographics and Characteristics of Fall Prevention Intervention Included Studies

Varriano, 2020 [37]

Canada

7

O: 79.1 (6.7)

57/43

MoCA (15–26)

O: 21.2 (2.9)

Mixed CI

RCT

12 weeks

Exercise; vestibular exercises

N/R

Usual care

Balance, Gait speed and control

Falls, but unclear if due to intervention

Goldberg, 2019 [38]

United Kingdom

60

O: 76 (range 65–91)

43/57

MMSE (18–26)

O: 25.6 (3.1);

I: 24.8 (3.6); 26.2 (3.2);

C: 25.9 (2.4)

Mild dementia or CI

RCT

12 months

Exercise; Balance, strength, dual-task training, gait re-education

Home-based

Single falls prevention assessment

Falls, Perceived risk of falling, Balance, Gait speed and control, Functional mobility (TUG)

19 recorded adverse events (5 non-serious but intervention related)

Padala, 2017 [39]

USA

30

O: 73.0 (6.2);

I: 72.1 (5.3);

C: 73.9 (7.1)

37/63

MMSE (≥18)

O: 22.9 (2.2);

I: 23.3 (2.2);

C: 22.7 (2.3)

Mild AD

RCT

8 weeks

Exercise; Wii-fit (yoga, strength, aerobics, balance)

Home-based

Self-paced walking program

Perceive risk of falling, Balance

None study related

Zieschang, 2017 [40]

Germany

122

I: 82.1 (6.6);

C: 82.2 (6.7)

74/26²

MMSE (17–26)

I: 21.6 (2.9);

C: 21.9 (3.3)

Mild to moderate dementia

RCT

3 months

Exercise; progressive resistance and functional training (activities of daily living, balance, walking, gait)

N/R

Seated motor training exercises

Falls

N/R

Sungkarat, 2017 [41]

Thailand

66

I: 68.3 (6.7);

C: 67.5 (7.3)

50/50

MoCA (< 26), MMSE (≥24)

I: MoCA: 21.2 (3.4), MMSE: 26.5 (1.7);

C: MoCA: 20.4 (3.8), MMSE: 25.8 (2.3)

Mild CI

RCT

15 weeks

Exercise; Tai Chi

Community-centre and home-based

Educational material covering information related to cognitive impairment and fall prevention

Perceive risk of falling,

Balance,

Functional mobility (muscle strength data^*)

No adverse events found.

Schwenk, 2016 [42]

USA

22

O: 78.2 (8.7);

I: 77.8 (6.9);

C: 79.0 (10.4)

55/45

MoCA (> 20)

O: 23.3 (2.6);

I: 23.3 (3.1);

C: 22.4 (3.0)

Mild CI

RCT

4 weeks

Exercise; Balance (ankle point-to-point reaching tasks and virtual obstacle-crossing tasks)

Research centre

Usual care

Perceive risk of falling,

Balance,

Gait speed and control

No training-related adverse events occurred.

Montero-Odasso, 2019 [47]

Canada

60

O: 75.28 (7.18);

I: 73.45 (5.74);

C: 77.24 (8.11)

45/55

CDR (0.5), MMSE, MoCA

O: sMMSE: 27.47 (1.96), MoCA: 23.60 (2.52);

I: sMMSE: 27.42 (2.19), MoCA: 23.19 (2.55);

C: sMMSE: 27.52 (1.72), MoCA: 22.97 (2.37)

Mild CI

RCT

6 months

Medication or vitamin supplement; Donepezil

Home-based

Placebo

Falls,

Balance,

Gait speed and control

No major adverse events requiring treatment were reported.

Chen, 2018 [45]

Taiwan

30

I: 77.3 (9.4);

C: 77.3 (10.0)

50/50

MMSE, CDR (0.5, 1 or 2)

I: MMSE: 16.4 (7.3), CDR: 0.5 = 6, 1.0 = 6, 2.0 = 3;

C: MMSE: 17.9 (3.7), CDR: 0.5 = 3, 1.0 = 9, 2.0 = 1

Mild to moderate dementia

RCT

2 months

Multifactorial; Musical dual-task training (physical and cognitive tasks)

Community/research centre

Non-musical cognitive tasks and walking exercises

Perceive risk of falling, Gait speed and control, Functional mobility (TUG)

No adverse events reported.

Kim, 2017 [46]

Korea

30

I: 82.0 (4.6);

C: 80.9 (3.4)

20/80

MMSE-Korea

I: 15.5 (2.9);

C: 15.6 (2.4)

Mild to moderate dementia

CCT

12 weeks

Multifactorial; physical activities, cognitive activities, activities of daily living, music activities

Community centre

Usual care

Perceive risk of falling, Balance, Functional mobility (TUG & CST)

N/R

Wesson, 2013 [17]

Australia

22

I: 78.7 (4.2);

C: 80.9 (5.0)

41/59

ACE-R (≤82), MMSE

I: ACE-R: 67.8 (12.6), MMSE: 24.5 (3.1);

C: ACE-R: 62.5 (14.2), MMSE: 22.5 (4.3)

Mild dementia

RCT

12 weeks

Multifactorial; strength and balance exercises, home hazard reduction

Home-based

Usual care, health promotion brochures on fall prevention and home safety

Falls, Perceive risk of falling, Balance, Gait speed and control

No serious adverse events related to the intervention were reported. Minor complaints relating to stiffness, dizziness and mild joint pain (n = 4; 36%) were reported.

Suttanon, 2013 [43]

Australia

40

O: 81.90 (5.72);

I: 83.42 (5.10);

C: 80.52 (6.01)

63/37

MMSE (≥10)

I: 20.89 (4.74);

C: 21.67 (4.43)

Mild to moderate AD

RCT

6 months

Exercise; balance and strength exercises, walking program

Home-based

Education and information sessions on the topic of dementia and ageing

Falls, Perceive risk of falling, Balance, Gait speed and control, Functional mobility (TUG, CST, and FRT^*)

There were no falls or other serious adverse events associated with the intervention

Hernandez, 2010 [44]

Brazil

20

O: 78.5 (6.8);

I: 77.7 (7.6);

C: 84.0 (6.1)

N/R

CDR; MMSE

I: 16.4 (6.7);

C: 14.2 (5.1)

Mild to moderate AD

CCT

6 months

Exercise; stretching, weight training, circuits, dance, recreational activities, relaxation

N/R

Usual care

Balance, Functional mobility (TUG)

N/R