Selective effects of ageing on vestibular-dependent lower limb responses following galvanic stimulation (original) (raw)

Vestibulocollic reflexes: normal values and the effect of age

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2001

Objectives: To define normal values and examine the influence of ageing on vestibulocollic reflexes (VCR). Methods: Vestibulocollic responses to 100 dB (normal hearing level; NHL) clicks, forehead taps and galvanic stimulation were measured in 70 healthy adults aged 25-85 years.

Perspectives on Aging Vestibular Function

Frontiers in Neurology, 2016

Much is known about age-related anatomical changes in the vestibular system. Knowledge regarding how vestibular anatomical changes impact behavior for older adults continues to grow, in line with advancements in diagnostic testing. However, despite advancements in clinical diagnostics, much remains unknown about the functional impact that an aging vestibular system has on daily life activities such as standing and walking. Modern diagnostic tests are very good at characterizing neural activity of the isolated vestibular system, but the tests themselves are artificial and do not reflect the multisensory aspects of natural human behavior. Also, the majority of clinical diagnostic tests are passively applied because active behavior can enhance performance. In this perspective paper, we review anatomical and behavioral changes associated with an aging vestibular system and highlight several areas where a more functionally relevant perspective can be taken. For postural control, a multisensory perturbation approach could be used to bring balance rehabilitation into the arena of precision medicine. For walking and complex gaze stability, this may result in less physiologically specific impairments, but the trade-off would be a greater understanding of how the aging vestibular system truly impacts the daily life of older adults.

Aging of vestibular function evaluated using correlational vestibular autorotation test

Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2014

Background: Imbalance from degeneration of vestibular end organs is a common problem in the elderly. However, the decline of vestibular function with aging was revealed in few vestibular function tests such as vestibular autorotation test (VAT). In the current VAT, there are drawbacks of poor test-retest reliability, slippage of the sensor at high-speed rotations, and limited data about the effect of aging. We developed a correlational-VAT (cVAT) system that included a small, light sensor (less than 20 g) with wireless data transmission technique to evaluate the aging of vestibular function. Material and methods: We enrolled 53 healthy participants aged between 25 and 75 years and divided them into five age groups. The test conditions were vertical and horizontal head autorotations of frequencies from 0 to 3 Hz with closed eyes or open eyes. The cross-correlation coefficient (CCC) between eye velocity and head velocity was obtained for the head autorotations between 1 Hz and 3 Hz. The mean of the CCCs was used to represent the vestibular function. Results: Age was significantly and negatively correlated with the mean CCC for all test conditions, including horizontal or vertical autorotations with open eyes or closed eyes (P0.05). The mean CCC with open eyes declined significantly at 55-65 years old and the mean CCC with closed eyes declined significantly at 65-75 years old. Conclusion: Vestibular function evaluated using mean CCC revealed a decline with age, and the function of visual-vestibulo-ocular reflex declined 10 years earlier than the function of vestibulo-ocular reflex.

Analysing Vestibulo-ocular and Oculomotor Reflex with Advancing Age

International Journal of Medical and Allied Health Sciences, 2023

Background: Video Head Impulse Test (v-HIT) and saccades test of Videonystagmography (VNG) are used clinically to differentially diagnose patients into peripheral and central vestibular pathologies. However, age and clinic specific norms are required for both the tests. Aims: To investigate if there is any changes in parameters of v-HIT and saccades test with advancing age.

Age-Related Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction: A Review

Dizziness or imbalance in the elderly person is so common that it is often considered a normal age-related phenomenon. [1] Belal and Glorig used the term presbystasis to describe the dizziness of age-related problems that cannot be attributed to any known diagnosis. [2] Dizziness and imbalance are well-recognized clinical manifestations found in the elderly age group. The underlying cause of dizziness in the elderly age group is complex and usually multifactorial. [3] Age-related peripheral vestibular dysfunction is an important cause of dizziness in the elderly age. Along with the vestibular system, proprioception, neurological system, and visual system maintain the postural stability of an individual. [4] The functions of all these systems deteriorate with an increase in age. [5] The progressive disequilibrium of the aging process is a complex, multifactorial condition that leads to instability and a higher risk of falls. Peripheral vestibular dysfunction plays an important role in progressive imbalance or dizziness in old age. [6] The labyrinth or inner ear consists of the cochlea and vestibular organs. The cochlea detects sound, while the vestibular organs detect the motion of the head. There is a large number of studies related to the aging of the cochlea, but relatively little about the age-related impact on the peripheral vestibular system. The review article aims to review the prevalence of peripheral vestibular dysfunction and functional and structural alteration of the peripheral vestibular system in the elderly age. mEthods of litEraturE sEarch Multiple systematic methods were used to find current research publications on age-related peripheral vestibular dysfunction. We started by searching the Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases online. A search strategy using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines was developed. This search strategy recognized the abstracts of published articles, while other research articles were discovered manually from the citations. Randomized controlled studies, observational studies, comparative studies, case series, and case reports

Emerging and distinct video head impulse test responses in elderly with vestibular symptoms

Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 2021

Introduction: Dizziness has been reported to be the most common symptom in elderly population. Video head impulse test, VHIT, allows clinicians to assess the vestibular function in elderly individuals, during their initial stages of vestibular symptoms. Inferences from VHIT responses were traditionally low vestibulo-ocular reflex gain or a normal vestibulo-ocular reflex gain. However, the possibility of a third and new variant of the vestibulo-ocular reflex gain has not been clinically explored yet. Objectives: To determine and report distinct patterns of vestibulo-ocular reflex gain using VHIT in elderly individuals with vestibular symptoms. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study was done on a group of elderly patients who were above 70 years of age. These individuals were subjected to VHIT during their symptomatic phase. A vestibulo-ocular reflex gain value between 0.80-01.20 (Horizontal plane) was considered normal. The gain above and below this cutoff range was considered abnormal. Results: 39 elderly patients (15 males and 24 females) whose mean age range was 74.71 years were evaluated for the VHIT response. Vestibulo-ocular reflex gain obtained was categorized into three distinct patterns: (i) normal vestibulo-ocular reflex gain, (ii) reduced vestibulo-ocular reflex gain and (iii) increased vestibulo-ocular reflex gain. The mean vestibulo-ocular reflex gain for both left and right horizontal canals varied significantly between the three groups (p < 0.05). No significant effect of age and vestibulo-ocular reflex gain was noted, though vestibulo-ocular reflex gain was higher in 80 years and above age (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Elderly individuals with dizziness may show varying responses with vestibulo-ocular reflex * Corresponding author.

Age-related decline in functional connectivity of the vestibular cortical network

Brain Structure and Function, 2015

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The Effect of Age on Improvements in Vestibulo-Ocular Reflexes and Balance Control after Acute Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Loss

Frontiers in neurology, 2016

An acute unilateral peripheral vestibular loss (aUVL) initially causes severe gaze and balance control problems. However, vestibulo-ocular reflexes (VOR) and balance control are nearly normal 3 months later as a result of peripheral recovery and/or central compensation. As pre-existing vestibular sensory loss is assumed to be greater in the healthy elderly, this study investigated whether improvements in VOR and balance function over time after aUVL are different for the elderly than for the young. Thirty aUVL patients divided into three age-groups were studied (8 age range 23-35, 10 with range 43-58, and 12 with range 60-74 years). To measure VOR function eye movements were recorded during caloric irrigation, rotating chair (ROT), and head impulse tests. Balance control during stance and gait was recorded as lower trunk angular velocity in the pitch and roll planes. Measurements were taken at deficit onset, and 3, 6, and 13 weeks later. There was one difference in VOR improvements ...

Characterization of age-related changes in vestibular evoked myogenic potentials

Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation, 2007

A tone-burst stimulation of 500 Hz seems to be clinically most appropriate to elicit vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) because those VEMPs can be recorded at the lowest stimulus intensity possible. However, little is known about gender and age-related changes of the amplitude in tone-burst (500 Hz) evoked VEMPs. The aim of the present paper was therefore to investigate the influence of gender and age on VEMP amplitude in relation to the tonic muscle activity. VEMPs of 64 healthy subjects were recorded ipsilaterally during air- or bone-conducted tone burst stimulation. The EMG of the tonically activated sternocleidomastoid muscle was recorded ipsilaterally with surface electrodes. Averages were taken for P1/N1 amplitudes of male and female volunteers within 3 different age groups. Although the amplitude decreased with increasing age the tonic activity was not significant different between the age groups. Consequently the relation between VEMP amplitude and tonic muscle ac...