Cognitive function assessment in patients with uncompensated vestibular neuritis

The vestibular system is essential for spatial orientation and is increasingly implicated in higher-order cognitive processes.

To investigate specific cognitive domains affected by unilateral vestibular neuritis (VN).

In a cross-sectional comparative study, 30 patients with uncompensated unilateral VN and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed. Participants completed a cognitive test battery including reaction time tasks, visuospatial memory (Corsi Block-Tapping Test), processing speed and response inhibition (Visual Stroop Task), verbal fluency, working memory (Reverse Digit Span), and attention (Serial 7 Subtraction). Between-group comparisons were conducted using independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U-tests, with effect sizes calculated using Cohen's d.

No significant demographic differences were observed between groups. Patients with VN performed significantly worse on the Corsi Block-Tapping Test (p = 0.004, d = 1.02) and exhibited prolonged reaction times in the choice reaction task and incongruent Stroop condition (p = 0.01, d = 0.8). No significant differences were found in other cognitive domains.

Unilateral VN is associated with deficits in visuospatial memory and slowed processing speed. These findings emphasize the vestibular system's role in cognition and support the inclusion of cognitive assessment and rehabilitation in the management of vestibular disorders.