Falls in the elderly due to vestibular dysfunction: clinical and pathogenetic aspects

Abstract

This article discusses the clinical features and causes of falls in the elderly due to vestibular dysfunction. The sociomedical significance of this problem is emphasized. Almost 50% of older people who have suffered repeated falls have a restriction of physical activity because of psychological reasons (fear of repeated falls). The most common cause of falls is balance disorders, and the corresponding complaint in patients with falls is vertigo. The description of peripheral and central forms of vertigo is provided. The clinical and pathogenetic aspects of these disorders are considered. It emphasizes that research conducted in recent years using methods of functional neuroimaging has significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms of functioning of the vestibular system, especially its central parts. Based on the results of studies aimed at studying the human connectome in patients with cochleovestibular disorders, the significance of multimodal sensory integration disorders with this pathology is shown.