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Geriatrics research

Everything we have read on geriatrics. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,442 PAPERS · PAGE 27 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2025Autism Among Adults with Down Syndrome: Prevalence, Medicaid Usage, and Co-Occurring Conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with both Down syndrome and autism used significantly more Medicaid services and had higher costs than those with either condition alone. They also had the highest rates of epilepsy, though their overall chronic condition profile resembled that of adults with Down syndrome alone.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025A novel multimodal pharmacologic approach using guanfacine, N-acetylcysteine, and donepezil in severe TBI: a case series.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTwo men with severe TBI showed large MoCA score improvements after taking guanfacine, NAC, and donepezil alongside rehab. This cannot prove the drugs caused the gains. Do not change practice based on these two cases.
• PTOTCohort2025Linking behavioral variability to daily function in stroke survivors: the mediating role of cognitive and motor mechanisms.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors showed more inconsistent performance on simple reaction and movement tasks than matched older adults. In stroke survivors, inconsistency was linked to poorer daily living tasks, and executive control, not muscle strength, helped account for that link. No treatment was tested.
• PTOther2025Tug-vimu: a GoPro-based mobility assessment bridging the gap between technology and clinical practice.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 16 healthy adults, a GoPro chest-camera TUG system detected 98% of gait steps and measured step length and duration reliably at slow and regular speeds. Some turning and sit-to-stand metrics missed predefined error targets.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Prioritizing quality of geriatric rehabilitation from the older adults' perspective: A nominal group technique study.Clinical rehabilitationOlder adults prioritized clear expectations, well-organized care, personal relationships with staff, respectful communication, and autonomy in decision-making. Basic needs like hygiene and nutrition were discussed but ranked lower. These priorities reflect what matters most to patients, not proven interventions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Cognitive Impairments Impact Functional Mobility in Stroke Survivors.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors with cognitive impairment showed worse balance, walking, and driving than cognitively normal survivors, despite similar motor strength. Driving performance was the most affected area. Cognitive deficits impact mobility independently of physical weakness, suggesting routine cognitive screening is vital for safe mobility planning.
• PTOTCase-Control2025Foot placement coordination is impaired in people with Parkinson's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's disease place their feet less precisely than healthy adults, with errors of 3 to 4 mm. This loss of fine control occurs even when walking speed is normal, suggesting a specific deficit in how the body coordinates steps to maintain balance.
• PTOTPilot2025Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation and static balance in parkinson's disease: a multimodal resting‑state fMRI feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 41 patients with Parkinson's, one session of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation improved Berg Balance scores immediately and at one week. Functional reach and discomfort also improved, but Timed Up and Go did not change significantly at first. No sham group was used.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Cognitive Impairment Highly Prevalent and Associated With Reduced Physical Function in Older Veteran Clinical Exercise Program.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost veterans entering this exercise program scored in the mild cognitive impairment range despite no dementia diagnosis. Lower leg strength and walking endurance were significantly associated with lower cognitive scores, while balance and arm strength were not.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Age Is Not the Limit-Functional Outcomes and Discharge Predictors in a Neurorehabilitation Cohort of Mixed Ages.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAge alone did not predict home discharge or functional improvement in this neurorehabilitation cohort. Instead, outcomes depended on comorbidity burden, baseline function, and length of stay. Do not exclude older patients from inpatient rehabilitation based on age.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025E-Cigarette Use Among Older Adults with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Relationship With History of Cigarette Smoking.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAbout 16% of adults with chronic spinal cord injury have tried e-cigarettes, and 4.9% currently use them. History of cigarette smoking and younger age were strongly associated with this use. Injury severity was not related to vaping.
• PTCohort2025Relationship between Hospitalization-Associated Disability and Functional Recovery.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn older adults hospitalized with acute illness, those who developed new disability were slower to sit, transfer, and walk. Not walking early after rehab started was linked to higher risk, but this study cannot prove early walking prevented disability.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Evaluating Goal Attainment Scaling for Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia in Rehabilitation Settings.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPeople with mild cognitive impairment or dementia could use Goal Attainment Scaling to rate their own progress, agreeing closely with therapists. However, goal attainment scores did not correlate with Functional Independence Measure scores, so the two tools measure different things.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Multicomponent exercise interventions for cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a summary of best evidence.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMulticomponent exercise combining aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility work improved overall cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Moderate intensity, 30-60 minute sessions, and 3-4 times weekly are recommended. Evidence is graded low and relies on secondary sources.
• PTOTCohort2025Central Blood Pressure and Augmentation Index in Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDROlder adults with intellectual disabilities show cardiovascular risk patterns similar to the general population, with women having higher central blood pressure than men. However, these specific vascular measures did not correlate with a history of cardiovascular disease in this group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Age at onset and gene variants predict lifespan and disease duration in childhood neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn children with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, the age at which symptoms first appear strongly predicts how long the patient lives. Later onset meant significantly longer survival and disease duration, while early onset led to rapid decline. Genetic variant severity did not consistently predict this timeline.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Development of a Screening Intervention for Dysphagia in Hospitalised Geriatric Patients.DysphagiaA new screening protocol for hospitalised older adults combines a four-question survey with a 30ml water test. It was designed for nurses and therapists to complete in five to fifteen minutes. No patient outcomes were measured yet.
• PTOTCohort2025Ten-Year Outcomes of Anticholinergic Use Among Older Adults With Intellectual Disability: Findings From the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA).Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRHigh anticholinergic burden was associated with more falls and mental health problems after 10 years in older adults with intellectual disability. It did not predict ADL dependency, constipation or laxative use. Medication review is warranted.
• PTOther2026Steps to Health: Backward Walking Predicts Physical Activity Levels in Multiple Sclerosis.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSlower backward walking identified people with MS who did not reach 7500 steps daily over 3 months, with cutoffs of 0.89 m/s comfortable and 1.25 m/s fast.
• PTOTCohort2026Physical activity and related characteristics in assisted living residents with different levels of mobility: a comparative analysis.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyResidents using wheelchairs or scooters had worse lower-body function than ambulatory peers, but similar hand strength. Activity counts were not significantly different between groups. Physical activity correlated with better balance and grip in seated users, suggesting upper-body exercise is viable.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Ideational and conceptual apraxia by cerebral infarction in the left basal ganglia and right pons: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA patient with no limb paralysis or aphasia lost the ability to operate complex machinery and ATMs after strokes in the left basal ganglia and right pons. Standard apraxia tests missed this deficit, which appeared only when assessing abstract, multi-step tasks.
• PTOTQualitative2026Fall experiences of ambulatory children and adults with cerebral palsy: A qualitative study using thematic content analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyPeople with cerebral palsy described embarrassment and anxiety as more worrying than physical injuries. They often avoid crowds or public spaces. Clinicians should ask about emotional impacts and teach safe falling techniques, as fear of falling limits independence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The Direct and Indirect Effects of Hearing Loss on Loneliness in Older Adults.Ear and hearingOlder adults who rated their own hearing as poor reported higher loneliness scores than those with better hearing. Loneliness also increased more over time in this group. Hearing aid use did not significantly change the link between hearing ability and loneliness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Dysphagia and Oral Health in Older Adults with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.DysphagiaCommunity-dwelling older adults with motoric cognitive risk syndrome reported significantly more swallowing difficulty than those without. Each one-point increase on the swallowing questionnaire raised the odds of having the syndrome by 13%. Oral health scores did not predict the syndrome.
• PTOTOther2026Active robotic assistance for standing and sitting: experimental evaluation of handle trajectories.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 15 young able-bodied adults, moving robotic handles reduced hip and knee effort during standing up and sitting down compared with static handles. Straighter handle paths gave the largest leg reductions, but required more upward force at the handles.
• PTOTSurvey2026Exercise modalities and outcome measures used in older adults after hip fracture with or without signs of cognitive impairment: a national cross-sectional e-survey of 90 out of 98 municipalities in Denmark.Journal of rehabilitation medicineDanish municipalities offer similar hip fracture rehabilitation regardless of cognitive status, but rarely screen for impairment or document specific plans for those with cognitive signs. Physiotherapists deliver most care, using functional and balance exercises, yet few use recommended pain or cognitive assessments.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Case Report: Intensive multidisciplinary motor-cognitive rehabilitation treatment in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne woman with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome completed four weeks of intensive motor-cognitive rehabilitation. Her walking, balance, hand dexterity, speech clarity and swallowing safety all improved during admission, though she still needed her walker and caregiver support.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Mapping 74 years in acoustic analysis of voice disorders: A bibliometric review and future research directions.Journal of communication disordersA bibliometric analysis of 1,253 studies shows acoustic voice assessment research has grown rapidly, driven by remote monitoring and machine learning. While Parkinson's disease is heavily studied, voice changes in dementia, ALS, and depression remain under-researched despite their clinical relevance.
• PTOther2025Psychometric properties of the Community Balance and Mobility Scale for people with stroke.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe CB&M is a reliable balance test for chronic stroke patients. A score of 62 or below indicates impaired balance compared to healthy adults. Changes of at least 5.35 points reflect real improvement, not just measurement error.
• PTCohort2025Baseline functional oxygen uptake gain as a prognostic factor of center-based exercise responding in well-functioning older adults.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 151 older adults doing one year of center-based supervised plus home exercise, lower baseline oxygen gain per workload was linked to a meaningful aerobic fitness gain. A low baseline marker may help set expectations, not prove exercise works.
• PTCohort2026Differential increase in peak oxygen uptake with cardiac rehabilitation among patients with stage B versus C heart failure.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients with earlier-stage heart failure gained fitness from cardiac rehabilitation faster than those with advanced heart failure. Peak oxygen uptake increased by 0.36 mL/kg/min per month in stage B versus 0.22 in stage C. Both groups improved, but the difference was significant.
• PTOTPilot2026Drumming with BEAT: a pilot study on the impact of drum set playing on motor control and quality of life in Parkinson's disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThree people with Parkinson's disease played a drum set for six weeks. All showed some improvement in balance and upper limb speed, but mood and quality of life scores were inconsistent. The program was feasible and engaging, but this small study cannot prove it works.
• PTOther2026Using ratings of perceived difficulty for balance exercise prescription and intensity progression.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPerceived difficulty ratings rose with age and harder conditions. Semi-tandem stance was rated harder than eyes closed. Older adults found the most difficult exercises impossible. Use these ratings to guide progression when sway measures are unavailable.
• PTOTCohort2026Predicting Geriatric Rehabilitation Stays of ≤4 Weeks After Hip Fracture Surgery: Machine Learning Approach Using Physical Activity and Patient Data.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAfter hip fracture surgery, a model using first-week activity and patient data identified likely stays of 4 weeks or less. It performed well in 100 Dutch patients, but needs external testing before changing discharge planning.
• PTOTCohort2026Optimizing the Approach to Calculating CST Lesion Load in Ischemic Stroke Patients for Understanding Motor Outcomes.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairUsing an age-matched brain template and a specific lesion calculation method, the maximum weighted lesion load of the corticospinal tract, best predicted motor impairment and function after stroke. This approach replicated in a second group and used only standard MRI scans.
• PTOTPilot2025Promoting continuous rehabilitation with AI-based motion capture and biomechanical analysis: objective feedback as a catalyst.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesObjective feedback on shoulder movement improved exercise motivation for one month in older adults with stroke, diabetes, or foot deformity. Motivation dropped off after four weeks. The effect was absent in participants with Parkinson's disease, who declined regardless of feedback.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Early Markers for Dementia in the Intellectual Disability Population: A Systematic Literature Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMemory decline is a common early sign of dementia in Down syndrome, but attention, executive function, language, behaviour and gait also change early. There is no clear sequence for which symptom appears first, so broad baseline assessment is needed.
• PTOTOther2026Perceptions on design, operability and impact of a power-assist, novel caregiver assist transport chair: a mixed methods study.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyCaregivers testing a prototype power-assist transport chair found it easy to push and maneuver, but flagged the weight as a major barrier for lifting into vehicles. They requested design changes for smoother sensor response and better footplate clearance.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Patient-Perceived Factors Influencing Physical Activity Sensor Use in Stroke Prevention and Rehabilitation: Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies Using Thematic Synthesis.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients often stop using activity trackers because devices feel designed for younger people and fail to capture relevant movements like slow walking. Engagement improves when therapists help set realistic goals and interpret data, turning raw steps into actionable health insights.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Trajectories and Predictors of Activity Participation Among People with Parkinson Disease: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationParticipation levels in people with Parkinson disease remained stable over three years, but depressive symptoms predicted immediate drops in activity. Patients with milder symptoms still lost participation over time, so monitor mood and social support in all patients, not just those with severe depression.
• PTSurvey2025Roles and Tasks of Physiotherapists in Nursing Homes: A Survey.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Nursing home physiotherapists agreed they should handle falls, mobility, and transfers, but lacked time for pain and sarcopenia. They disagreed on their role in incontinence and malnutrition. This reflects professional opinion, not patient outcomes, so it cannot confirm if this work improves resident health.
• PTOTOther2026Feasibility, Test-Retest Reliability and Convergent Validity of the Two-Minute Step Test in Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRThe Two-Minute Step Test worked for half of older adults with intellectual disabilities, with excellent reliability. It was feasible for those with mild to moderate disabilities but rarely for those with severe or profound disabilities.
• PTSurvey2025What are physical therapists doing to prevent falls in older adults in Brazil? - Findings from a nationwide survey.Brazilian journal of physical therapyMost Brazilian physical therapists ask about falls and prescribe balance exercises, but referrals are rare. Therapists outside geriatrics or who feel outdated are much less likely to consistently screen and document risk factors. Patient reluctance, not time or equipment, was the main reported barrier.
• PTOther2026Joint torque estimation from daily living motion for passive sarcopenia monitoring in older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationJoint torques during repeated sit-to-stand were lower in older adults with sarcopenia, but single chair-stand differences were not significant. Exploratory only.
• PTOTOther2026Reliability and Discriminant Ability of an Instrumented Timed Up and Go Test in People With Postsurgical Orthopedic Conditions: Quantitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThe instrumented TUG test reliably identifies five mobility domains in orthopedic patients. These sensor-based factors distinguish between hip, knee, and fracture groups better than stopwatch timing alone, offering a more detailed view of functional recovery.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Prevalence and Modifiable Risk Factors of Dementia in People With Down Syndrome: Cross-Sectional Study of Japan in Collaboration With the Intellectual Diversity for Goodness Research Consortium (INDIGO-2019).Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRNearly half of adults with Down syndrome aged 45 and over in Japanese care facilities had dementia. Dyslipidaemia and visual impairment were the only significant modifiable risk factors found, suggesting routine monitoring of these conditions may help identify those at higher risk.
• PTOther2026Rating scales to inform balance exercise difficulty during rehabilitation for individuals with neurological disorders.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesDuring balance training, participants' own difficulty ratings often matched the physical therapist's assistance ratings. Overall agreement was 59%. Most mismatches were one rating level. This may help gauge exercise challenge, not prove it improves outcomes.
• PTOther2025Reproducibility and minimal detectable change of sustained maximal inspiratory pressure in healthy adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceA sustained maximal inspiratory pressure test gave consistent scores when repeated one minute apart in 30 healthy young adults. Changes above 88.4 pressure-time units or 16.9% can be considered real rather than measurement noise.
• PTOther2026Comparisons of hip-worn and ankle-worn accelerometers on measuring physical activity and their correlations with perceived activity level in community-dwelling older adults.Gait & postureIn 40 older adults, ankle accelerometers counted more steps and light activity, while hip accelerometers detected more moderate and vigorous activity. Self-reported activity matched weekday accelerometer counts and sitting, but not weekend activity.
• PTOTPilot2025Development and feasibility testing of a video-based exercise program for improving upper limb motor function among stroke survivors in a low-income setting.Archives of physiotherapyStroke survivors in Nigeria completed a four-week home program using an English video, manual, and five exercises including constraint-induced movement therapy; 29 of 30 finished, and motor scores rose 8.8 points on a 75-point scale. Without controls, this shows feasibility, not proven effectiveness.