Abstract
Age-related loss of vestibular function can result in decrements in gaze stabilization and increased fall risk in the elderly. This study was designed to see if low levels of electrical stochastic noise applied transcutaneously to the vestibular system can improve a gaze stabilization reflex in young and elderly subject groups. Ocular counter-rolling (OCR) using a video-based technique was obtained in 16 subjects during low frequency passive roll tilts. Consistent with previous studies, there was a significant reduction in OCR gains in the elderly compared to the young group. Imperceptible stochastic noise significantly increased OCR in the elderly (Mean 23%, CI: 17–35%). Increases in OCR gain were greatest for those with lowest baseline gain and were negligible in those with normal gain. Since stimulation was effective at low levels undetectable to subjects, stochastic noise may provide a new treatment alternative to enhance vestibular function, specifically otolith-ocular reflexes, in the elderly or patient populations with reduced otolith-ocular function.
Highlights
The risk of vestibular dysfunction increases as a function of age[1]
We observed an age-related loss in vestibular function when comparing OCR gain in elderly subjects compared to a young subject group
We observed that imperceptible electrical stochastic noise (SN) significantly enhanced OCR gain in the elderly group
Summary
The risk of vestibular dysfunction increases as a function of age[1]. Age-related vestibular loss has been demonstrated in multiple vestibular pathways[2] and has been associated with increased falls[3]. Ocular-counterroll (OCR) is one measure that has been shown to be sensitive to age-related loss in vestibular function[5,6]. We previously demonstrated that reductions in OCR gain with aging were correlated with increased postural sway, suggesting OCR loss may a useful predictor of fall risk[5]. Based on these previous findings, we chose OCR gain as a marker of vestibular loss to evaluate a method of enhancing gain in the elderly using low levels of imperceptible electrical stimulation. We extend this work to examine the effects of imperceptible electrical SN on otolith-ocular function in both young and elderly subjects. Since we expected the OCR gains to be lower in the elderly, we hypothesized this group would show greater improvements with the SN intervention
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