Falls, motor dysfunction, and correlative neurohistologic changes in the elderly.

The development of structural and functional deficits in the aging nervous system may constitute one important source of falls in the elderly. Present information is suggestive and is still based primarily upon tissue specimens from chronically ill and hospitalized patients. Within these limits, examples of structural changes are presented, and the possible functional consequences are examined. Although discrete patterns of motor weakness may follow such dysfunctions, overall problems in the timing and sequencing of motor action programs may be equally important in leading to falls and injury in the elderly.