# DIZZINESS IN OLDER PEOPLE

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 1991 · $271,322

## Abstract

Among patients 75 years and older dizziness is the most common
presenting complaint in a doctor's office.  Although pathophysiological
changes have been identified in the vestibular system of aged animals
and humans, the role of these changes in the production of dizziness and
dysequilibrium is unclear. The proposed research will use modern
quantitative techniques to assess the function and morphology of the
peripheral and central vestibular systems in olderly normal subjects and
patients complaining of dizziness.

Specific aim 1 is to quantify vestibular function in two groups of
elderly persons: a group complaining of dizziness and a group without
symptoms of dizziness.  All subjects will undergo baseline testing
(including history questionnaires and quantitative tests of balance and
visual-vestibular interactions) and yearly repeat examinations.  The
goals are to define the natural history of common vestibular disorders
in older patients and to quantify changes in vestibular function that
normally occur with aging.  Specific aim 2 is to identify pathology in
the peripheml and central vestibular systems in the patient group.  The
goals are to determine the accuracy of the clinical diaposes, to clarify
the pathophysiology of common vestibular disorders and to search for
pathology in patients with dizziness of unknown cause.  Specific aim 3
is to perform quantitative studies of the morphology of the peripheml
and central vestibular systems in both groups of elderly persons.  The
goal is to achieve a quantitative correlation of function with
morphology.

Examination of the temporal bone and brain of normal subjects and
patients who have undergone quantitative visual-vestibular function
testing is the unique feature of this stidy.  Prior clinical-
pathological studies of the vestibular system have relied on meager
clinical information and no quantitative data.  This multidisciplinary
study can overcome these limitations and thereby improve the diagnosis
and management of elderly persons complaining of dizziness.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121611
- **Project number:** 1R01AG009693-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **SAM.gov UEI:** RN64EPNH8JC6
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT WILLIAM BALOH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $271,322
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1991-04-01 → 1996-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121611

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121611, DIZZINESS IN OLDER PEOPLE (1R01AG009693-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121611. Licensed CC0.

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