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Decrease of Horizontal Canal Vestibulo-Oculomotor Reflex Gain in the Elderly with Dysequilibrium without Lifetime Vertigo.
- Source :
-
ORL . Jun2017, Vol. 79 Issue 3, p178-184. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background/aims: </bold>Unsteadiness in the elderly is a frequent complaint and a strong predictor of falls and psychological distress. Although there is a general consensus that it is a multifactorial condition, recent studies have focused on the role of aging of the vestibular system as a possible cofactor. The aim of our work was to assess horizontal canal function in the elderly.<bold>Methods: </bold>We evaluated the gain of horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) with a video head impulse test on a sample of 58 subjects aged >70 years without lifetime episodes of vertigo and correlated the value with different clinical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, prior cardiovascular and vascular disorders of the central nervous system, and falls).<bold>Results: </bold>The mean value of the gain was 0.86 ± 0.12, and people aged between 70 and 80 years presented higher values (0.90 ± 0.1) compared to those >80 years (0.81 ± 0.13; p = 0.025). Previous vascular disorders of the central nervous system were a predictor of decreased VOR gain (p = 0.0003). A nonparametric analysis demonstrated that sex, age, and VOR gain (p ˂ 0.0001) were predictive of falls.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Our data support the hypothesis of a decrease of VOR gain in the elderly. The decrease of canal function may therefore play a role in the risk of falls in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *VESTIBULAR apparatus
*AGING
*DIZZINESS
*VESTIBULO-ocular reflex
*DISEASES in older people
*ACCIDENTAL fall prevention
*VERTIGO diagnosis
*GERIATRIC assessment
*ACCIDENTAL falls
*CEREBELLAR ataxia
*LONGITUDINAL method
*PEOPLE with intellectual disabilities
*REFLEXES
*RISK assessment
*SEMICIRCULAR canals
*VERTIGO
*VESTIBULAR function tests
*PREDICTIVE tests
*DISEASE incidence
*RETROSPECTIVE studies
*DIAGNOSIS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03011569
- Volume :
- 79
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- ORL
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 123755246
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000473894