INFLUENCES OF AGE ON VISUAL-PROPRIOCEPTIV E INTERACTIONS A POSTUROGRAPHIC STUDY

The influence of fixation on the vestibule-ocular reflex and the syner gistic stabilising effect of vision on the body equilibrium are well k nown. In this study interactions between the visual and the propriocep tive systems in patients of different ages are analysed. We tried to f ind out whether body equilibrium reactions, recorded by posturography, are influenced qualitatively and quantitatively by visual inputs. Met hods and Patients: 349 neurootologic patients aged between 3 and 80 ye ars were included in this study. We applied different optical patterns by means of a video-screen to the patients standing on a posturograph ic platform. The patients were asked to follow the pattern with their centre of the gravity, which was also shown on the video screen. The p atterns consisted of a line that had to be followed in the anterior-po sterior and in the lateral plane and of a circle which had to be follo wed clockwise and counterclockwise. Results: We recognised definite ag e-related changes in all tests used. The precision to follow a visual target with the body equilibrium increased with increasing age to the age of forty. With the beginning fifth decade this postural ability de creases slowly and decreases particularly markedly in patients of over 70 years of age. Conclusions: Posturography in combination with visua l feedback is a valuable technique for testing visual-proprioceptive i nteractions. it can be employed over a large age bracket.