Damage to the balance system in the inner ear is a major reason that people with Alzheimer’s disease have an above-average risk of falling, a small new study has revealed.
Vestibular dysfunction — or disturbance to a group of canals and bony structures deep in the inner ear — can be caused by aging, viral infections and head injury. It is a common cause of balance issues even in healthy adults, but the link between the problem and falls in people with Alzheimer’s has been unclear, according to investigators.
In the current study, 48 patients at an Alzheimer’s treatment center were tested using devices that track responses to eye and head movement. Participants who demonstrated vestibular impairment on the tests over a two-year period were 50% more likely to fall than their peers who had normal function, reported Yuri Agrawal, M.D., of the Johns Hopkins Medicine University School of Medicine, and colleagues.
A ‘sixth sense’
The vestibular system is like a “sixth sense” that is always on, helping orient people as they move through space, Agrawal said. Because it cannot be controlled, people can feel disoriented when it is dysfunctional.
Along with preventing or reducing memory loss, Alzheimer’s care should also include attention to this system, she added. Vestibular impairment can be treated with balance exercises in physical therapy.
“That could enhance the quality of life for both patients and caregivers,” Agrawal concluded.
The researchers are planning a follow-up study to see how patients with dementia respond to this therapy.
The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease.
