A new study from Mayo Clinic shows that artificial intelligence (AI) can help spot people who may be more likely to fall—even as early as middle age.
Published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the research highlights the important role of abdominal muscles in keeping people steady and strong.
Falls are a major cause of injuries, especially in older adults. Many people over 65 fall each year, leading to broken bones, hospital visits, and loss of independence. Most research has focused on older adults, but this new study suggests that signs of fall risk may appear earlier in life, even before retirement age.
The Mayo Clinic team used AI technology to look at abdominal imaging scans—CT scans that many people already have done for other reasons, like checking for stomach pain or cancer screening.
The researchers worked with radiology and computer experts to analyze the scans in a new way. They wanted to see if AI could measure fat levels, bone quality, and muscle features that might hint at future health problems.
They found that one feature stood out: muscle density. This refers to how solid and uniform the muscles look on a scan. When a muscle has more fat in it, it appears darker and less dense. In contrast, denser muscles have less fat and are linked to better strength and physical function.
According to lead author Dr. Jennifer St. Sauver, muscle size alone—how big your muscles are—is not the best way to judge health or strength. Instead, muscle density gives more useful information. People with better muscle density had fewer falls, while those with low density were at higher risk.
The researchers were surprised by how strongly muscle density in the belly area predicted falls. They expected this to be true in older adults, but the effect was also seen in people as young as 45. This means that fall risk may start to build up much earlier than we thought.
Many studies in the past have looked at leg muscles when studying balance and falls. But this new research shows that the abdominal or “core” muscles also play a big role in keeping people upright. These muscles help us move, bend, stand up, and stay steady.
Dr. St. Sauver explained that maintaining strong abdominal muscles is important for everyone—not just athletes or older adults. In fact, she suggests that focusing on these muscles in midlife could help prevent falls and injuries later in life.
This research also shows how AI can be used in healthcare in smarter ways. By using information from scans that people already have, doctors might one day be able to predict health risks like falling—without extra tests or procedures.
In summary, this Mayo Clinic study reveals that AI can help us understand the importance of abdominal muscle density. It may be a powerful new tool for spotting fall risk in adults before serious injuries happen. The findings suggest that keeping your core muscles strong and healthy is a smart move for long-term well-being, starting in your 40s or even earlier.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about nutrients that could combat inflammation in older people, and essential foods for healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the link between processed foods and chronic diseases, and a simple diet change for a healthier life after 65.
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