Project R-16864

FALL-IN: FALLs and Sensory INtegration in Older Adults - From Brain to Behaviour (Research)

Healthy aging is a top priority of the decade worldwide. However, falls in older adults negatively affect healthy aging and impose major personal and societal burdens. Uncovering the causes behind falls is crucial for preventing falls and reducing the associated burdens. Prior research indicates that most falls occur during walking with sensory or reactive balance challenges (i.e., walking on ice), suggesting problems with sensory integration (SI) and reactive balance recovery (RBR). Yet, despite decades of scientific focus on falls, these aspects remain insufficiently addressed. To address this gap, I propose a unique and comprehensive project that explores the underlying mechanisms of falls using a new test titled “Sensory Integration in Walking (SensIWalk) Test”. The SensIWalk Test evaluates dynamic SI across the adult lifespan. First, I will explore the age-related changes in dynamic SI and fall risk, linking balance behavior to biomechanical, neuromuscular, and cortical mechanisms. Next, I will investigate how age-related deficits in RBR and the underlying dynamic SI lead to falls across the adult lifespan. Overall, this project will deliver a comprehensive framework for fall-risk evaluation in ecologically valid contexts, enabling more precise stratification and prevention, and tailored rehabilitation. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to societal goals of reducing the burden of falls and increasing the quality of life among older adults.

01 November 2026 - 31 October 2029