The Effect of Age on the Visuo- and Vestibulo-ocular Reflexes of Elderly Patients with Vertigo

Ura, Masaharu; Pfaltz, C. R.; Allum, J.H.J.

doi:10.3109/00016489109131431

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…found that vestibulo‐ocular and visuo‐ocular responses were reduced in the elderly, but that in those with vertigo, visuo‐ocular responses were less reduced, possibly as a compensatory mechanism. 4 Intersubject variability in caloric responses was much greater in the elderly. 5 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Re-evaluation of normative electronystagmography data in healthy ageing

Hajioff

Barr-Hamilton²,

Colledge

et al. 2000

Clin Otolaryngol

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Previous work by our group questions the validity of existing electronystagmography (ENG) reference ranges in the elderly. We aim to establish valid reference ranges for ENG in people over 65 on the Nicolet Nystar Plus system. Ninety-six healthy asymptomatic subjects over 65 underwent ENG, including spontaneous and positional nystagmus, saccades, smooth pursuit, optokinetic nystagmus and bithermal calorics; 95% reference ranges with confidence intervals were calculated. The newly determined reference ranges were far wider than those provided by the ENG equipment manufacturer for eight out of 11 parameters (all P < 0.001). Vestibular function is known to deteriorate and become more variable with age. The failure to reflect this change in currently used reference ranges may have contributed to the high rates of vestibular disease reported in some series of dizzy elderly patients. Clinical interpretation of ENG depends on valid reference ranges.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Re-evaluation of normative electronystagmography data in healthy ageing

Hajioff

Barr-Hamilton²,

Colledge

et al. 2000

Clin Otolaryngol

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“…Lewis 13 found that infants showed reduced OKN gain compared to adults in either direction. Several studies have reported a decrease in OKN gain [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and a wider variation of OKN gain at older age, 14 which possibly contribute to balance problems in the elderly. 15 We have investigated changes in OKN related to age in a large group of subjects between infancy and senescence using different stimulus velocities with small field stimulation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Age related change of optokinetic nystagmus in healthy subjects: a study from infancy to senescence

Valmaggia

Rütsche²,

Baumann³

et al. 2004

British Journal of Ophthalmology

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Background: Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) gain is asymmetrical between temporal to nasal (TN) and nasal to temporal (NT) stimulation in infancy and decreases at older ages. The age at which OKN gain becomes symmetrical and decreases is debated. The aim was to investigate OKN over the whole lifespan in a large sample of healthy subjects. Methods: In a prospective, cross sectional study OKN was tested monocularly using TN and NT small field stimulation. Stimulation velocity was 15˚/s and 30˚/s for children aged under 1 year (n = 97), and 15˚/s, 30˚/s, 45˚/s, and 60˚/s for older subjects (1-9 years, n = 66; 10-89 years, n = 86). Gain was measured using infrared oculography. Results: Significant OKN gain asymmetry in favour of TN versus NT stimulation was found during the first 5 months of life (p,0.05). Only at 11 months of age was OKN symmetrical in 100% of the subjects. The percentage of children with symmetrical OKN decreased with increasing stimulus velocity. OKN gain increased in the second and third years (p,0.05 for 15˚/s), remained stable until 50 years of age, and showed a small but significant decrease afterwards for the tested velocities (between 6% and 18%, p,0.05). Conclusions: Infrared oculography is an accurate method to assess OKN, especially in children. Knowledge about change of OKN in healthy subjects could be helpful to interpret OKN in patients with abnormal binocular vision or lesions of the central nervous system.

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“…Nevertheless, ageing is associated with an increase in the visual contribution, and the elderly therefore seem to rely more on exteroceptive afferent than body afferent [2,6]. Vestibular inputs, which have an important role in postural control [9], display an age-related decrease in excitability [10,11] on account of the lower number of hair cells in the semicircular canals [12,13], the reduction in primary vestibular neurones [13], and the reduction in the utriculus and sacculus macula [14]. Moreover, vestibular omission can be an additional age-related factor [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and Sporting Activities Improve Vestibular Afferent Usage and Balance in Elderly Human Subjects

Gauchard

Jeandel²,

Perrin

2001

Gerontology

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Background: Ageing is associated with a reduction in balance, in particular through dysfunction of each level of postural control, which results in an increased risk of falling. Conversely, the practice of physical activities has been shown to modulate postural control in elderly people. Objective: This study examined the potential positive effects of two types of regular physical and sporting activities on vestibular information and their relation to posture. Methods: Gaze and postural stabilisation was evaluated by caloric and rotational vestibular tests on 18 healthy subjects over the age of 60 who regularly practised low-energy or bioenergetic physical activities and on 18 controls of a similar age who only walked on a regular basis. These subjects were also submitted to static and dynamic posturographic tests. Results: The control group displayed less balance control, with a lower vestibular sensitivity and a relatively high dependency on vision compared to the group practising low-energy physical activities, which had better postural control with good vestibular sensitivity and less dependency on vision. The postural control and vestibular sensitivity of subjects practising bioenergetic activities was average, and required higher visual afferent contribution. Conclusion: Low-energy exercises, already shown to have the most positive impact on balance control by relying more on proprioception, also appear to develop or maintain a high level of vestibular sensitivity allowing elderly people practising such exercises to reduce the weight of vision.

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The Effect of Age on the Visuo- and Vestibulo-ocular Reflexes of Elderly Patients with Vertigo

Cited by 17 publications

References 5 publications

Re-evaluation of normative electronystagmography data in healthy ageing

Re-evaluation of normative electronystagmography data in healthy ageing

Age related change of optokinetic nystagmus in healthy subjects: a study from infancy to senescence

Physical and Sporting Activities Improve Vestibular Afferent Usage and Balance in Elderly Human Subjects

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