Vestibular Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease
Johns Hopkins University
Summary
Nearly 2 out of 3 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience problems with balance and mobility, which places such patients at increased risk of falling. The vestibular (inner ear balance) system plays an important role in balance stability, and vestibular therapy (VT) is well-known to improve balance function in healthy older adults. In this study, the investigators will conduct a first-in-kind randomized clinical trial to evaluate whether vestibular therapy improves reduces falls in patients with AD, in whom this treatment has never been studied.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 60+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of AD based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer Association 2011 criteria that is mild-moderate (CDR=0.5-2). * Age ≥ 60 years. * Vestibular loss defined as bilaterally impaired vestibular responses (semicircular canal or otolith responses). * Able to participate in study procedures including vestibular physiologic testing, balance and gait assessment, neurocognitive testing, and VT or active control. * Able to give informed consent, as further detailed in the Human Subjects section. The investigators anticipate that individuals who are too impaired to…
Interventions
- BehavioralVestibular physical therapy
Vestibular therapy is a set of exercises delivered by a physical therapist involving head movements. The therapy is delivered over a course of 8 weeks.
- BehavioralActive control
Strength and flexibility exercises that do not involve head movements.
Location
- Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimore, Maryland