Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex in the Aging Population

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) of individuals over 60 years of age who have not been diagnosed with a specific vestibular pathology.
Methods: Bilateral six-semicircular canal video head impulse test (vHIT), Dizziness Handicap Inventory and European Evaluation of Vertigo scales were applied to participants.
Results: In total, 103 participants were included in the study (75 male, 28 female), and the mean age was 69.35 ± 7.41 years. The mean age of 7th decade group was 64.32±3.12 (59 participants; 38 male, 21 female), and the mean age of 8th decade and older group was 76.11±5.93 (44 participants; 37 male, 7 female). No significant differences were found between the VOR gains of the lateral or vertical semicircular canals between the 7th decade and 8th decade and older groups (p>0.05). In the 8th decade and older group, the presence of right lateral semicircular canal corrective saccade and left posterior semicircular canal corrective saccade showed a positively moderate correlation with VOR gains of the same semicircular canals (r=0.455, p=0.002, and r=0.518, p=0.001, respectively). No significant correlation was found between age and VOR gain in the 7th decade group, however, there was a negatively weak correlation between age and left lateral semicircular canal VOR gain (r=-0.366, p=0.017) in the 8th decade and older group.
Conclusion: While assessing the age-related changes in VOR using vHIT, it must be considered that the changes related to aging of the vestibular system begin to emerge in the population over 70 years of age, and corrective saccade findings may be more informative than VOR gains in revealing these changes.

Yaþlanan Popülasyonda Vestibülo-Oküler Refleks

Amaç: Bu çalýþmanýn amacý, 60 yaþ üstü, spesifik bir vestibüler patoloji tanýsý konmamýþ bireylerin vestibülo-oküler refleksini (VOR) deðerlendirmektir.
Yöntemler: Katýlýmcýlara iki taraflý altý kanallý video head impulse testi, Baþ Dönmesi Engellilik Envanteri ve Avrupa Vertigo Deðerlendirmesi ölçekleri uygulandý.
Bulgular: Çalýþmaya toplam 103 katýlýmcý (75 erkek, 28 kadýn) dahil edildi ve yaþ ortalamasý 69,35 ± 7,41 yýl. 7. dekat grubunun yaþ ortalamasý 64,32±3,12 (59 katýlýmcý; 38 erkek, 21 kadýn), 8. dekat ve üzeri grubun yaþ ortalamasý 76,11±5,93 (44 katýlýmcý; 37 erkek, 7 kadýn) idi. Lateral ve vertikal semisirküler kanallarýn VOR kazançlarý arasýnda 7. dekat ile 8. dekat ve daha yaþlý gruplar arasýnda anlamlý farklýlýk bulunmadý (p>0.05). 8. dekat ve üzeri grupta, sað lateral kanal düzeltici sakkat ve sol arka kanal düzeltici sakkat varlýðý, ayný kanallarýn VOR kazanýmlarý ile pozitif orta düzeyde korelasyon gösterdi (r=0.455, p=0.002 ve r=0.518, p= 0,001, sýrasýyla). 7. dekat grubunda yaþ ile VOR kazancý arasýnda anlamlý bir korelasyon bulunmazken, 8. dekat ve üzeri grupta yaþ ile sol lateral kanal VOR kazancý arasýnda negatif yönde zayýf bir korelasyon vardý (r=-0.366, p=0.017).
Sonuç: VHIT kullanýlarak VOR'daki yaþa baðlý deðiþiklikler deðerlendirilirken, 70 yaþ üstü popülasyonda vestibüler sistemin yaþlanmasýna iliþkin bulgular ortaya çýkmaya baþlamaktadýr ve düzeltici sakkat bulgularý, bu deðiþiklikleri ortaya çýkarmada VOR kazanýmlarýndan daha bilgilendirici olabilir. (SETB-2023-07-127)