How can we better diagnose and treat patients with symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, ataxia and loss of balance?
Disease of the balance apparatus occurs with both inner ear (vestibular) problems, including Ménière’s disease, tumors and viral infections, and with many diseases of the brain. These include stroke, trauma, cerebellar degeneration, Arnold-Chiari malformation, and Parkinson’s disease and related conditions, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Disorders of both the inner ear and the brain commonly lead to double and blurred vision, especially when our heads or bodies move. This can happen, for example, when riding in a car, walking or running, or even when reading or watching television. These disorders often lead to serious falls. In order to understand how these symptoms can be treated, we are investigating the vestibular reflexes associated with the types of movement of the head that occur with walking and running. Therapeutically, we are developing ways to speed recovery of balance, and so prevent falls, and relief from dizziness and vertigo. Accordingly, a major research
