Vestibular functioning in people with Parkinson's disease

To investigate vestibular function in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, using cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (c & oVEMPs) and the video head impulse test (vHIT).

A cross-sectional case-control study.

This study involved 22 people with PD and 22 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, with a mean age of 61.59 years (SD 6.11, range 50.6-72.8) and a mean age of 61.65 years (SD 6.55, range 50.0-71.2), respectively. The PD group included 8 individuals in Hoehn and Yahr stage I (36.4%), 4 in stage II (18.2%), and 10 in stage III (45.5%).

No significant differences in vHIT canal gains were found between groups (p > 0.05). However, vestibular abnormalities were more prevalent in the PD group: 18,2% had a normal VEMP battery compared to 50,0% of controls. Furthermore, 27.3% of PD patients showed abnormalities in both cVEMP and oVEMP, versus 9.1% of controls. PD patients exhibited significantly smaller oVEMP peak-to-peak amplitudes (µV) than controls (p = 0.008).

This study provided valuable insights into vestibular abnormalities in PD, with oVEMPs demonstrating the highest abnormality rate. These results contribute to elucidating diagnostic approaches and treatments for postural instability in PD.