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Published on: August 30, 2019
Imbalance and vertigo: the aging human vestibular periphery
1Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. gishiyama@mednet.ucla.edu
Seminars in Neurology
|October 17, 2009
Summary
Dizziness and imbalance are common in older adults, often due to aging vestibular systems. Early diagnosis and vestibular rehabilitation are crucial for improving balance and reducing fall risk in the geriatric population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance are prevalent complaints in patients aged 75 and older.
- Age-related changes in the vestibular system (senescence) are implicated in falls among the elderly.
- Vestibular disorders in older adults are linked to reduced independence, increased falls, and potential depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of diagnosing and treating dizziness and vertigo in geriatric patients.
- To highlight the responsiveness of vestibular impairment to rehabilitation.
- To investigate the role of vestibular system basement membrane proteins in age-related decline.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies implicating vestibular senescence in geriatric falls.
- Documentation of age-related deterioration in vestibular function via quantitative testing.
- Ongoing laboratory research on immunohistochemical protein expression in the vestibular system of older adults.
Main Results:
- Age-related decline in vestibular function is documented and correlates with cellular loss in the vestibular periphery.
- Longitudinal studies show a correlation between declining vestibular function and impaired gait and balance.
- Senescence of both central and peripheral vestibular pathways likely contributes to age-related balance decline.
Conclusions:
- Correct diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders are imperative in the geriatric population.
- Vestibular rehabilitation can effectively address age-related vestibular impairment.
- Investigating basement membrane proteins may reveal causes of age-related sensory cell and neuronal loss in the vestibular system.
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