For the elderly, brain injuries have been found to be a little more than half responsible for their death according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. The CDC examined 16,000 deaths in 2005 that listed unintentional falls as the underlying cause of death. The elderly fear breaking a hip when they fall, but this new research proves otherwise. “A lot of people don't think a fall is serious unless they broke a bone, they don't think it's serious unless they break a hip. They don't worry about their head,” said Pat Flemming, a senior physical therapist and researcher at Vanderbilt University. Each year, one in three Americans age 65 and older fall. About 30 percent of them require medical treatment. Previous CDC research showed that the U.S. death rate from falling has risen a dramatic 55 percent for the elderly since the 1990s. The new study highlights the role that brain injuries play in such deaths. The consensus seems to be that as people age their veins and arteries are more prone to tearing during a sudden blow or jolt to the head according the CDC epidemiologist Marlena Wald. The tendency for tearing can cause a fatal brain bleed. Other factors include the use of blood thinners. To counteract the possibility of serious injury the CDC encourages older Americans to exercise to increase leg strength and balance. Glasses or a type of vision correction can help people avoid obstacles. Finally, the careful use of drugs that affect thinking and coordination, such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills should be carefully considered. “Falls are not an inevitable consequence of aging. These head injuries are not inevitable, either,” Wald said. The CDC research study is published in the June issue of the Journal of Safety Research.