Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in Older Adults

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in Older Adults: Treatment Efficacy and the Impact on Balance, Inactivity and Frailty

Despite the growing research on Benign Paroxysmal Positioning Vertigo (BPPV), the impact and treatment efficacy on balance, physical activity (and consequently) frailty in elderly is lacking. Also, the added value of the video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) in this population has never been studied before. With insights gained from this research, we hope to contribute to an efficient treatment of BPPV in this growing population and to minimize its impact and healthcare burden.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Persons ≥ 65 years old
• Able to stand independent for at least 30 seconds
• Able to walk (with or without) walking aid for at least 10 meters
• Patients diagnosed with posterior semicircular canal BPPV
• Patients diagnosed with lateral-semicircular canal BPPV

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to understand and follow simple instructions (e.g. due to severe dementia, hearing loss or visual impairment)
• Persons temporarily or permanently living in a residential or psychiatric care centre, a home for the disabled or rehabilitation centre
• Persons with contra-indications for the diagnostic maneuver, vHIT or caloric irrigation test (e.g. severe limitation in mobility of the cervical spine of perforation of the tympanic membrane)
• Persons with other (acute) vestibular disorders and who as a result no longer meet the above mentioned diagnostic criteria for BPPV
• Persons with evolutionary disorders of the central nervous system (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
• Persons who are already taking antivertigo drugs.
• Persons still in the rehabilitation phase after an orthopedic or cardiovascular incident.