Impact of vestibular loss on central vestibular pathways in aging adults

新的研究提供了令人信服的证据，前庭系统不仅对基本的 反射(如前庭-眼睛、姿势)，但也对包括空间记忆在内的复杂认知过程 和导航；自我运动感知和运动规划；以及执行功能。前庭功能 随着健康的衰老而下降，我们小组和其他人的研究表明，随着年龄的增长，前庭功能丧失 成年人与已知的与年龄相关的认知技能下降有关，包括空间记忆和 导航能力，自主感知和运动规划。在NIDCD支持的一项试点研究中， 我们发现，患有前庭丧失的老年人海马体体积减少，脑组织萎缩。 丘脑和基底节的亚区。在这项初步研究中，我们团队建立了一条分析管道 来自巴尔的摩老龄化纵向研究(BLSA)的神经成像数据在成像中心 约翰霍普金斯大学生物医学工程系理科(CIS)。我们建立了 用于体积分析和形状分析的计算基础设施。在这项建议中，我们寻求 利用此基础设施更全面地调查老化对三个核心中心的影响 前庭通路，并研究这些通路的结构变化和功能之间的联系 由这些途径介导的临床技能的变化。具体地说，我们的目标是：1调查 增龄性外周前庭感觉丧失与中枢神经系统结构的关系 前庭通路，具体考虑3条主要的前庭中枢通路：1)空间认知；2) 感觉运动；3)前额叶皮质(执行功能)。目标2检查纵向关系 外周前庭缺失与中央前庭通路结构改变之间的关系 模型，以及老年成年人的新变点模型。目的3探索两者之间的联系 前庭中央通路的结构改变和临床功能的横断面改变 纵向的。这项提议是利用前庭生理学优势的独特机会。 和计算神经成像，以增加我们对健康老龄化的影响的基本理解 在中央前庭网络，和相关的临床后果。这项研究的结果将被用于 以推动进一步的关键研究问题，包括1)前庭丧失是否有助于加速 认知障碍患者的认知能力和脑结构的下降 阿尔茨海默病；以及2)对前庭缺失的前庭干预可以预防/减轻 中央前庭通路？

Emerging research is providing compelling evidence that the vestibular system contributes not only to basic reflexes (e.g. vestibulo-ocular, postural) but also to complex cognitive processes including spatial memory and navigation; self-motion perception and motor planning; and executive function. Vestibular function declines with healthy aging, and studies from our group and others have shown that vestibular loss in aging adults is associated with known age-related reductions in cognitive skills including spatial memory and navigation ability, and self-motion perception and motor planning. In a pilot study supported by the NIDCD, we found that older adults with vestibular loss had reduced hippocampal volumes, as well as atrophy of subfields of the thalamus and the basal ganglia. During this pilot study, our group built a pipeline for analysis of neuroimaging data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) at the Center for Imaging Science (CIS) in the Johns Hopkins Department of Biomedical Engineering. We established the computational infrastructure for both volumetric analysis and shape analysis. In this proposal, we seek to leverage this infrastructure to more comprehensively investigate the impact of aging on three core central vestibular pathways, and examine the link between structural changes in these pathways and functional changes in clinical skills mediated by these pathways. Specifically, we aim to: Aim 1 Investigate the relationship between peripheral vestibular sensory loss associated with aging and the structure of central vestibular pathways, specifically considering 3 primary central vestibular pathways: 1) spatial cognitive; 2) sensorimotor; 3) prefrontal cortex (executive function). Aim 2 Examine the longitudinal relationships between peripheral vestibular loss and structural changes in central vestibular pathways using longitudinal models and also the novel change-point model in aging adults. Aim 3 Explore the association between structural changes in central vestibular pathways and clinical functional changes cross-sectionally and longitudinally. This proposal represents a unique opportunity to leverage strengths in vestibular physiology and computational neuroimaging to increase our fundamental understanding of the impact of healthy aging on central vestibular networks, and associated clinical consequences. Findings from this study will be used to drive further critical research questions, including 1) Does vestibular loss contribute to the accelerated decline in cognitive ability and brain structure that occurs in individuals with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease; and 2) Can vestibular interventions for vestibular loss prevent/mitigate changes in central vestibular pathways?