[The effect of age on vestibulo-ocular reactions]

Elderly persons are affected in addition to other findings, by an overall reduction of their bodily and mental reactions. Their sensory ability decreases, such as hearing, vision, smell, and taste. With increasing age disturbances of the balance system occur more frequently, resulting in disequilibrium, vertigo, light-headedness, and falling. - The aim of this study was to find out physiological changes in the vestibular system that are connected with aging processes. For this study we selected 470 patients from 1500 neurotologic routine patients of 1 to 90 years of age. All of these patients underwent a routine neurotologic test battery including caloric, rotatory, and optokinetic tests with electro-nystagmographic recording and vestibular spinal tests. The results show that vestibular ocular reactions change markedly during the period of nine decades. The nystagmus reactions, expressed by the nystagmus parameters of frequency, amplitude, and maximal slow phase velocity, of children differ from those of adults and more pronounced from those of aged persons. Quantitative nystagmus dynamics after caloric and rotatory stimulation are accompanied by qualitative changes of the nystagmus signal. Signs of destruction appear with increasing age that may lead to unreadable electronystagmograms. These changes are the result of age-related physiological changes occurring in the sensory, cerebral, peripheral nervous and muscular systems.