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Related Experiment Videos

Vestibular Functions and Parkinson's Disease.

Paul F Smith1,2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Frontiers in Neurology
|January 9, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is linked to vestibular system dysfunction, with growing evidence of vestibulo-spinal reflex deficits and neuropathology in the central vestibular system. Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) shows promise as a potential PD treatment.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Parkinson's Disease (PD) is increasingly suspected to involve vestibular system dysfunction, particularly concerning postural instability.
  • Evidence for vestibulo-spinal reflex deficits (abnormal vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials) is substantial, while findings on the subjective visual vertical are inconsistent.
  • Neuropathology of PD, including Lewy bodies, has been identified in the central vestibular system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and critically evaluate existing human and animal research on the relationship between the vestibular system and Parkinson's Disease.
  • To synthesize evidence regarding vestibular reflex deficits and neuropathological changes in PD.
  • To assess the potential of novel treatments like noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for PD.
Keywords:
Parkinson's diseaseVEMPsdopaminestriatumvestibular systemvestibulo-ocular reflexesvestibulo-spinal reflexes

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Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of human and animal studies investigating vestibular function in Parkinson's Disease.
  • Analysis of data on vestibulo-ocular reflexes (VORs), vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs), and subjective visual vertical.
  • Evaluation of studies examining neuropathological correlates in the central vestibular system and clinical trials of nGVS.

Main Results:

  • Substantial evidence supports vestibulo-spinal reflex deficits in PD, indicated by abnormal VEMPs.
  • The role of the vestibular system in visual-vestibular integration in PD requires further clarification due to inconsistent findings.
  • Emerging research indicates the presence of PD-related neuropathology within the central vestibular system.
  • Preliminary studies suggest noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) may be a viable therapeutic approach for PD symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • A significant connection exists between Parkinson's Disease and vestibular system dysfunction.
  • Vestibular-spinal pathways are demonstrably affected in PD, warranting further investigation.
  • Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) presents a promising avenue for future Parkinson's Disease treatment development.