The Effect of Age on the Sinusoidal Harmonic Acceleration Test, Pseudorandom Rotation Test, Velocity Step Test, Caloric Test, and Vestibular-evoked Myogenic Potential Test

Abstract

In Brief Objectives: Age-related anatomical and morphologic vestibular deterioration has already been elaborated. Demonstrating a corresponding degradation in physiologic function, however, entails a much higher challenge. The objective of this study was to investigate age-related changes using rotational tests, caloric tests, and the vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) test. Design: Eighty healthy human subjects (38 men and 42 women) ranging in age from 18 to 80 yrs participated in this study and were subjected to an extensive vestibular test battery. Function tests included sinusoidal harmonic acceleration tests, a pseudorandom rotation test, velocity step tests, a caloric test, and a VEMP test. Results: No significant age trends were noted for the sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test and velocity step tests response parameters, in contrast to subtle decreasing gain values with advancing age for the pseudorandom rotation test. Increasing slow-component velocity values were measured with the caloric test, whereas the frequency parameter showed no relevant age changes. The largest age trends were detected with the VEMP, with decreasing amplitudes, increasing thresholds, and decreasing N1 latencies. All asymmetry parameters remained stable across the different age categories. Conclusions: Only subtle age changes could be demonstrated with the rotational and caloric tests, in contrast to more pronounced age trends with the VEMP. The goal of this study was to examine age-related changes in multiple vestibular function tests. Eighty subjects (18-80 years) were subjected to an extensive test battery, consisting of sinusoidal harmonic acceleration tests (SHAT), pseudorandom rotation tests (PRRT), velocity step tests (VST), caloric tests, and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP). No significant age trends could be demonstrated with the SHAT and VST, compared to subtle gain decreases with increasing age for the PRRT. Increasing slow component velocity values were measured with the caloric test. Largest age changes were detected with the VEMP, where decreasing amplitudes, increasing thresholds and decreasing N1 latencies were most prominent.