[Do neurologists need the head impulse test?]

Dizziness and Unstable Gait in Old Age: Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

BACKGROUND

Dizziness and unsteady gait are common in the elderly but are too often dismissed as supposedly nonspecific, inevitable accompaniments of normal aging. For many affected persons, the factors leading to dizziness and gait impairment in old age are never identified, yet some of these factors can be specifically detected and treated.

METHODS

This review is based on publications (2005-2014) retrieved by a selective search in PubMed on the terms "aging," "dizziness," "elderly," "gait," "gait disorder," "geriatric," "locomotion," and "vertigo."

RESULTS

Dizziness interferes with the everyday activities of 30% of persons over age 70 and is so severe that it constitutes a reason for consulting a physician. The more common causes of dizziness and unsteady gait in old age are sensory deficits, such as bilateral vestibular failure, polyneuropathy, and impaired visual acuity; benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo; and central disorders such as cerebellar ataxia and normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Further relevant factors include sedative or antihypertensive medication, loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), and fear of falling. Many elderly persons have multiple factors at the same time. Benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo can be effectively treated with specific physical maneuvers. Sedating drugs are indicated only for the treatment of acute rotatory vertigo and are not suitable for long-term use. Sarcopenia can be treated with physical training.

CONCLUSION

If a specific cause can be identified, dizziness and gait unsteadiness in old age can often be successfully treated. The common causes can be revealed by systematic clinical examination. Controlled clinical trials on the efficacy of treatments for elderly persons are urgently needed.

Vertigo and dizziness in children

Vertigo and dizziness of at least moderate severity occur in >5% of school-aged children and cause considerable restrictions in participation in school and leisure activity. More than 50% of dizzy children also have headache. Vestibular migraine and benign paroxysmal vertigo as a migraine precursor are the most common diagnoses in dizziness clinics for children and adolescents. They account for 30-60% of diagnoses. Other common causes are somatoform, orthostatic, or posttraumatic dizziness. All other disorders that are known to cause vertigo and dizziness in adults also occur in children, but incidence rates are usually lower. The vestibular and balance systems are largely developed after 1 year of age. Therefore, clinical and laboratory testing is reliable. Brain magnetic resonance imaging to exclude severe conditions, such as a brainstem tumor, is necessary only if clinical - in particular, ocular motor - testing is abnormal. Most conditions causing vertigo and dizziness in childhood and adolescence are treatable. Nonpharmacologic prophylaxis should always be recommended in vestibular migraine. Behavioral support is useful in somatization. Evidence for the effectiveness of drug therapy is largely based on experience in adult populations. High-quality controlled studies in childhood cohorts are sparse. It is important to make a correct diagnosis early on, as counseling and appropriate treatment may avoid chronic illness.