Vertigo and Dizziness in the Elderly

Abstract

The prevalence of vertigo and dizziness in people aged more than 60 years reaches 30%, and due to aging of world population, the number of patients is rapidly increasing. The presence of dizziness in the elderly is a strong predictor of falls, which is the leading cause of accidental death in people older than 65 years. Balance disorders in the elderly constitute a major public health problem, and require an adequate diagnosis and management by trained physicians. In the elderly, common causes of vertigo may manifest differently, as patients tend to report less rotatory vertigo and more non-specific dizziness and instability than younger patients, making diagnosis more complex. In this mini review, age-related degenerative processes that affect balance are presented. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches oriented to the specific impaired system, including visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular pathways, are proposed. In addition, presbystasis – the loss of vestibular and balance functions associated with aging – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and stroke (in acute syndromes) should always be considered.

Idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the elderly: a long-term follow-up study

“…Several studies have demonstrated that older patients with BPPV have a more protracted course and higher risk of recurrence, but the causes of recurrence are not well understood [2,[4][5][6][7][8]. There are reports that aging contributes to the fragmentation of otoconia, as idiopathic BPPV (iBPPV) is more common in older adults than in younger individuals [8,12].…”

“…The prevalence of this condition in patients older than 65 years is around 30%, and due to an aging world population, the number of patients is rapidly increasing [5,6].…”

Risk Factors of Dizziness among Institutionalized Elderly Persons: A Case Control Study

“…It is important not just because of the physical discomfort it causes, but especially because of the consequences that it may generate, such as falls and resulting complications. The presence of dizziness in the elderly is a strong predictor of falls, which is the leading cause of accidental death in people older than 65 years [20].…”

Examining the association between vestibular function and lower extremity circumference in an aged population

“…Earlier study has shown that dizziness is a chronic symptom in older patients, which is closely associated with vestibular disorders. 2 Most importantly, the risk of falling is a significant sequela of vestibular deficits, and the consequences arising from falls might vary and be more serious due to other comorbidities. 3 Furthermore, postural instability and vestibular dysfunction are associated with malnutrition and sarcopenia.…”