Nordic walking and macular degeneration
Macular degeneration causes people to walk more slowly and need more support, scenarios that increase the risk of falling.
A study I saw confirmed slower walking speeds and stride velocities. Also the participants tended to walk in a way where they emphasized keeping both feet on the ground. In other words, they would take a step, bring the other foot up, stand, and then step off again.
One area of research should be the effect of using poles for stability.