Quantifying Changes in Balance, Gait, Fall Risk, and Sensory Reweighting in Older Adults Following Multi-Session...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Aging is associated with declines in balance, gait, and increased fall risk.
• Electrical vestibular stimulation therapy (eVST) shows promise for improving these age-related deficits.
• Objective quantification of treatment effects is crucial for personalized therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of digital biomarkers from a wearable physiological vibration acceleration (phybrata) sensor.
• To quantify changes in balance, gait, fall risk, and sensory reweighting in older adults undergoing eVST.
• To assess the utility of phybrata biomarkers for monitoring treatment response.

Main Methods:

• 32 older adults (60-98 yrs) received an 18-session eVST protocol over 4-6 weeks.
• A head-mounted phybrata sensor collected data on balance, gait, and sensory reweighting.
• Standard balance tests and wearable-sensor-based gait assessments were performed pre- and post-treatment.

Main Results:

• 30 participants showed significant improvements in balance, gait, and reduced fall risk post-eVST.
• Phybrata biomarkers indicated recovery of vestibular function and reduced reliance on proprioception.
• The sensor identified 2 non-responders early and tracked a decrease in high fall risk from 19 to 4 individuals.

Conclusions:

• Phybrata digital biomarkers provide a rapid and objective method for assessing treatment-induced changes in older adults.
• The wearable sensor technology is effective in quantifying improvements in balance, gait, and fall risk after eVST.
• Phybrata biomarkers can personalize eVST by identifying non-responders and monitoring progress.