Measuring Vestibular Contributions to Age-Related Balance Impairment: A Review

Andrew R. Wagner; Andrew R. Wagner; Olaoluwa Akinsola; Ajit M. W. Chaudhari; Ajit M. W. Chaudhari; Kimberly E. Bigelow; Daniel M. Merfeld; Daniel M. Merfeld; Daniel M. Merfeld

doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.635305

Frontiers in Neurology (Feb 2021)

Measuring Vestibular Contributions to Age-Related Balance Impairment: A Review

Andrew R. Wagner,
Andrew R. Wagner,
Olaoluwa Akinsola,
Ajit M. W. Chaudhari,
Ajit M. W. Chaudhari,
Kimberly E. Bigelow,
Daniel M. Merfeld,
Daniel M. Merfeld,
Daniel M. Merfeld

Affiliations

Andrew R. Wagner: School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Andrew R. Wagner: Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Olaoluwa Akinsola: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Ajit M. W. Chaudhari: School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Ajit M. W. Chaudhari: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Kimberly E. Bigelow: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States
Daniel M. Merfeld: School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Daniel M. Merfeld: Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Daniel M. Merfeld: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.635305
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Aging is associated with progressive declines in both the vestibular and human balance systems. While vestibular lesions certainly contribute to imbalance, the specific contributions of age-related vestibular declines to age-related balance impairment is poorly understood. This gap in knowledge results from the absence of a standardized method for measuring age-related changes to the vestibular balance pathways. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the existing body of literature as it pertains to the methods currently used to infer vestibular contributions to age-related imbalance.

Published in Frontiers in Neurology

ISSN: 1664-2295 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/

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Abstract

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