Mind-wandering and falls risk in older adults.

Although mind-wandering is common, engaging in task-irrelevant thoughts can have negative functional consequences. We examined whether mind-wandering frequency may be related to falls-a major health-care problem. Seniors completed a sustained attention task and self-reported their current attentional states. Monthly falls reports were collected over 12 months. Falls were associated with an increased frequency of mind-wandering. In addition, poorer performance on the sustained attention task was associated with more falls over 12 months. Given that fallers are known to have impaired executive cognitive functioning, our results are consistent with the current theory that poor attentional control may contribute to the occurrence of mind-wandering.