Jonathan Wilhoite Blog: Aging: Declining Functions After 40

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Aging: Declining Functions After 40

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Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers discovered that thresholds start doubling every 10 years above the age of 40. This means that it eventually has an impact in our abilities to receive sensory information related to motion balance and spatial orientation.

This study was published in Frontiers in Neurology. It highlights a major decline in these abilities. Senior author Daniel M. Merfeld, Ph.D. says that the vestibular decline was apparently present beyond the age of 40. He is the Director of the Jenks Vestibular Physiology at Mass. Eye and Ear and a Professor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School.

Function Declines Starting At Age 40

More than half of the population will see a doctor at some point in their lives with symptoms related to the vestibular system (e.g., dizziness, vertigo, imbalance and blurred vision). The vestibular system, made up of tiny canals in the inner ear, is responsible for receiving information about motion, balance and spatial orientation. Read more…

Science Daily says that the study conducted tests to 105 healthy people from 18-80 years of age. Their thresholds were measured in accordance to the goal of establishing if sex or age affected the system.

They found no difference between the male and female subjects. However, results pointed out that it increased above the age of 40 for all motions examined.

Function Declines Beyond 40

The researchers also found that these increasing thresholds strongly correlated with failure to complete a standardized test for balance. This correlation shows that fall risk is substantially impacted by vestibular function. Read more…

NewsWise reports that the correlation between the thresholds and balance also imply that there are better methods to screen for functions and ways to improve therapy that can help with the thresholds.

Dr. Merfeld states that they’ve been aware that individuals with vestibular disorders have disturbed balance. In order to help patients, it’s possible to come up with balance aids or exercises to enhance their balance and function.

Function Declines Starting At Age 40

The correlation between vestibular thresholds and balance also suggests that there may be better ways to screen vestibular function and ways to develop therapies that may improve their thresholds. Read more…

The findings of the study help the medical field identify the effects of declining functions to older adults. It suggests that a form of therapy or aid can still developed in the future.

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