Objective

To examine the hypothesis that small vessel disease disrupts postural networks in older adults with unexplained dizziness in the elderly (UDE).

Methods

Simultaneous electroencephalography and postural sway measurements were undertaken in upright, eyes closed standing, and sitting postures (as baseline) in 19 younger adults, 33 older controls and 36 older patients with UDE. Older adults underwent magnetic resonance imaging to determine whole brain white matter hyperintensity volumes, a measure of small vessel disease. Linear regression was used to estimate the effect of instability on electroencephalographic power and connectivity.

Results

Ageing increased theta and alpha desynchronisation on standing. In older controls, delta and gamma power increased, and theta and alpha power reduced with instability. Dizzy older patients had higher white matter hyperintensity volumes and more theta desynchronisation during periods of instability. White matter hyperintensity volume and delta power during periods of instability were correlated, positively in controls but negatively in dizzy older patients. Delta power correlated with subjective dizziness and instability.

Conclusions

Neural resource demands of postural control increase with age, particularly in patients with UDE, driven by small vessel disease.

Significance

EEG correlates of postural control saturate in older adults with UDE, offering a neuro-physiological basis to this common syndrome.

中文翻译：

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小血管疾病在“老年人无法解释的头晕”中破坏脑电图姿势脑网络

客观的

研究小血管疾病会破坏老年人不明原因头晕 (UDE) 的老年人姿势网络的假设。

方法

同时对 19 名年轻成人、33 名老年对照和 36 名 UDE 老年患者进行了直立、闭眼站立和坐姿（作为基线）的脑电图和姿势摇摆测量。老年人接受磁共振成像以确定全脑白质高信号体积，这是一种衡量小血管疾病的方法。线性回归用于估计不稳定性对脑电图功率和连通性的影响。

结果

老化增加了站立时的 theta 和 alpha 不同步。在较旧的控件中，delta 和 gamma 功率增加，而 theta 和 alpha 功率随着不稳定性而降低。头晕的老年患者在不稳定期间具有更高的白质高信号体积和更多的θ不同步。不稳定期间的白质高信号量和 delta 功率相关，在对照组中呈正相关，但在头晕的老年患者中呈负相关。Delta 功率与主观头晕和不稳定性相关。

结论

姿势控制的神经资源需求随着年龄的增长而增加，特别是在 UDE 患者中，由小血管疾病驱动。

意义

在患有 UDE 的老年人中，EEG 与姿势控制的相关性饱和，为这种常见综合征提供了神经生理学基础。