Fall Prevention - Vestibular Rehabilitation

A Feasibility Study on the Effects of Vestibular Training as a Fall Prevention Strategy in the Elderly

A feasibility study of a vestibular rehabilitation program in a sample of cognitively impaired clinical patients to guide future trials.

This is a feasibility study to gather preliminary data on a vestibular rehabilitation program. All participants who visit UHN memory clinic with a diagnosis of mild/moderate cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's or vascular disease or both and have had falls will be asked to participate. If agree to be contacted they will receive a consent form.

All agreeable participants shall be screened for vestibular impairment through the following tests: Dix-Hall pike test, Head Impulse Test, Head Shake test, test of Dynamic Visual Acuity. In addition, participants will complete the MoCA to assess cognitive functioning. A score lower than 15 will exclude the participant.

After determining the population who is eligible for this study and willing to participate, participants shall move to baseline assessment. At baseline, measurements of balance, gait, and dynamic visual acuity in addition to questionnaires about dizziness felt, confidence in performing activities without falling, depression and quality of life, shall be completed.

Immediately after baseline, participants will begin their treatment arm, depending on if they have been put in the vestibular group or control group. Participants in the vestibular arm will be taught vestibular exercises and asked to perform vestibular exercises for 3 sessions daily, 3-10 minutes/session. Participation in vestibular exercises shall be recorded via a log by their caregiver. During the 12 weeks, these diaries shall be kept with the participant caregiver. Caregivers shall be followed up bi-weekly to ensure that participants are completing the exercises, and logging their participation.

At the end of the 12 weeks, participants will be reassessed with the same measures from baseline in addition to the head impulse test and test of dynamic visual acuity. The investigators shall also administer a final questionnaire (Problematic Experiences of Therapy Scale) to see what may have prevented completion of therapy or caused issues.

Participants that are randomized to standard of care Control group will undergo Baseline and 12-week assessments including vestibular testing and questionnaires.

3-months after final assessments (6 months after start), all participants shall be contacted to see if there were any falls/near fall experiences.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elderly people ages 65 and older
• English speaking
• Can log their participation or have a caregiver log on their behalf
• Mild/moderate dementia [(1) Alzheimer's disease, (2) small vessel vascular dementia not related to stroke and (3) mixed dementia of Alzheimer's or small vessel vascular not related to stroke] or mild/moderate cognitive impairment
• Vestibular Impairment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurological disease (e.g. seizures, stroke, hemorrhage, central nervous system tumor, multiple sclerosis)
• Being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (e.g. Major depression episode, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder etc.)
• Those with a current inner ear infection
• Those with severe neck arthritis
• Those with Post-Concussion Syndrome
• Severe cognitive impairment as defined by a MoCA <15
• Following etiologies of dementia: Dementia due to Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalous