Vestibular complaints are common in older adults and are linked to imbalance and falls. Some older adults show impaired vestibular perception despite preserved peripheral-reflex ['vestibular agnosia (VA)']. Yet it remains unclear if VA is independently linked to imbalance and falls in otherwise healthy older adults....
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Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Clinicians assessing fall risk in older adults should not rely solely on peripheral vestibular reflex tests, as impaired vestibular perception — detectable through perceptual measures — may be present even with normal reflex findings.
Demonstrating a dissociation between vestibular reflexes and perceptual function expands the diagnostic picture for fall-risk assessment in aging populations, with direct implications for audiology and balance clinics.
- 01Impaired vestibular perception can exist in older adults despite preserved peripheral vestibular reflexes.
- 02Vestibular perceptual deficits are independently linked to balance impairment and elevated fall risk.
- 03Standard reflex-based vestibular testing alone may miss clinically relevant balance dysfunction.
- 04Study conducted in community-dwelling older adults and published in Age & Ageing.
- 05Findings support adding perceptual vestibular measures to fall-risk assessment protocols.
Impaired vestibular perception can occur in older adults despite preserved peripheral vestibular reflexes.
studysupportedVestibular perceptual impairment is associated with balance impairment and fall risk in community-dwelling older adults.
studysupported- PMID
- 42525828
- DOI
- 10.1093/ageing/afag216.
- Journal
- Age and Ageing
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Community-dwelling older adults
- Intervention
- Assessment of vestibular perception alongside peripheral vestibular reflex testing
Primary outcomes
Vestibular perception accuracy; Balance impairment measures; Fall risk assessment