Interference between walking and a cognitive task is increased in patients with bilateral vestibular loss

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Vestibular System Disorders
• Gait and Balance Research

Background:

• Bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) affects balance and spatial orientation.
• Previous research suggested different impacts of unilateral versus bilateral vestibular loss on dual-tasking.
• Understanding dual-task interference is crucial for rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare walking performance under dual-task conditions in patients with BVL versus healthy controls.
• To investigate the extent of attentional interference between walking and cognitive tasks in BVL.
• To differentiate the dual-tasking deficits in BVL from those observed in unilateral vestibular loss.

Main Methods:

• 12 patients with bilateral vestibular loss and 12 healthy controls participated.
• Participants completed single tasks: walking and cognitive counting.
• Dual-task performance involved simultaneous walking and counting.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in single-task walking speed or cognitive performance were found between groups.
• Patients with BVL exhibited significantly greater deterioration in walking performance under dual-task conditions.
• This included slower dual-task gait speed, a larger reduction in gait speed from single to dual-task, and a lower global dual-task score.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral vestibular loss leads to greater attentional interference between walking and cognitive tasks compared to healthy individuals.
• The findings suggest a specific deficit in dual-tasking abilities associated with BVL.
• This highlights the importance of addressing attentional processing in the management of BVL.