Influence of age on vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)

Abstract

In this article we discuss the influence of age on the vestibulo-ocular reflex in a comparison of data from different age groups. In order to examine the influence of age, the pendular rotation test was performed in 25 otoneurologically healthy subjects and 12 patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders, from 25 to 72 years of age. The subjects were divided into three groups: 20-39, 40-64 and older than 65 years. The stimulus modes were an amplitude and a frequency of 30 degrees at 0.25 Hz and of 60 degrees at 0.1 Hz, respectively. The gain, phase lag and visual suppression in VOR of the pendular rotation test were measured, and the age-dependent changes in these scores were evaluated. The following results were obtained: 1. The gain in VOR with eyes open in a dark booth was significantly decreased in the older than 65 years group. 2. The phase lag was significantly increased in the older than 65 years group. 3. There were no significant differences of VOR-visual suppression between any of the age groups. The gain in normal subjects was significantly larger than that of the affected side in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders. The phase lag in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders was significantly larger than in normal subjects. Similar to normal subjects, this stimulation caused no significant differences in the VOR-VS between the affected side and the normal side in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders.