Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of cognitive impairment and the results of stabilographic tests in elderly patients with cognitive impairment.

Methods:
The study involved 42 participants aged 62–84 (mean 73.4 ± 6.7) years. The assessment of cognitive status was carried out with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Included were subjects who obtained a score below 27, which is the cut-off score between the absence and presence of cognitive impairment. Postural stability was evaluated by using a force platform which registered the shifts of the centre of pressure (CoP) in the sagittal and frontal plane during two 32-second trials of quiet stance on a hard surface, with eyes open and with eyes closed. The CoP sway parameters were analysed.

Results:
In the eyes-open test, we obtained a weak negative correlation of the MMSE and the mean radius of the CoP sway (r = –0.37; p < 0.05). Considering the values achieved in each plane, a statistically significant correlation was observed in all the parameters analysed in the sagittal plane. The eyes-closed test revealed a clear negative correlation between the MMSE results and all the studied parameters.

Conclusions:
A significant relationship between the severity of cognitive impairment and the results of stabilographic parameters were noted. A negative correlation between the stabilographic parameters and the MMSE scores showed a linear deterioration of postural stability which progresses along with the decrease in cognitive functions.