AUTHOR=Zhang Xuehao , Huang Yan , Xia Yuqi , Yang Xiaotong , Zhang Yanmei , Wei Chaogang , Ying Hang , Liu Yuhe 

TITLE=Vestibular dysfunction is an important contributor to the aging of visuospatial ability in older adults–Data from a computerized test system

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.1049806

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2022.1049806

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background: A convergence of research supports a key role of the vestibular system in visuospatial ability. However, visuospatial ability may decline with age. This work aims to elucidate the independent contribution of vestibular function to the aging of visuospatial ability in old adults through a computerized neuropsychological testing system.
Methods: Patients with a clinical history of recurrent vertigo and at least failed one vestibular test were included in this cross-sectional study. Healthy controls of three age groups: elderly, middle-aged, and young adults were also involved. Visuospatial cognitive outcomes including spatial memory, spatial navigation, and mental rotation of all the groups were recorded. Comparing the performance of the visuospatial ability between patients and age-matched controls as well as within the controls. 
Results: A total of 158 individuals were enrolled. Visuospatial cognitive outcomes between patients and age-matched controls showed that patients performed worse than the controls on all the tests, with the differences in the forward span (p < 0.001), the time of the maze 8×8 (p = 0.009), and the time of the maze 12×12 (p = 0.032) being significant. For the differences in visuospatial cognitive outcomes within the controls, the younger group had a significantly better performance than the other groups. The elderly group and the middle-aged group had comparable performances during all the tests.
Conclusions: This study suggest that the effect of vestibular input on visuospatial ability exists independently of age. Elderly patients with vestibular dysfunction had more difficulties during visuospatial tasks, especially in spatial memory and spatial navigation. Within the controls, younger adults did much better than other age groups, while older adults behaved similarly to middle-aged adults. It is a valuable attempt to computerize the administration of tests for visuospatial ability.