Introduction and purpose: The prevalence of balance and walking disorders increases with age and is related to the increased incidence of falls in the elderly population. This fall is associated with significant complications and mortality. The aim of this research was to investigate changes in walking and balance related to aging and the effect of memory disorders on walking and balance in the elderly.
Methodology: The current research was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design, with two experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population of the research was made up of all elderly people with mild cognitive impairment in Isfahan city. The statistical sample includes 36 elderly people who were included in the study by purposeful sampling. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used, and in the inferential statistics, variance analysis with repeated measurements was used. The significance level in statistical tests was considered to be 05%.
Results: The elderly show an age-related decrease in sensory systems and a decrease in the ability to adapt to changes in their environment to maintain balance. Elderly people depend on the nervous system and memory to maintain postural stability. Increased gait variability, especially with memory impairment, poses a particular challenge to the elderly, which is associated with an increased risk of falls. Aerobic and resistance exercises have shown promising effects on balance and walking.
Conclusion: Aerobic and resistance exercises improve the balance and walking of the elderly with memory impairment.