Vestibular Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease

Part of paid clinical trials in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sponsor
Johns Hopkins University
Study ID
NCT03799991
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
60 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Vestibular physical therapy — BEHAVIORAL
    Vestibular therapy is a set of exercises delivered by a physical therapist involving head movements. The therapy is delivered over a course of 8 weeks.
  • Active control — BEHAVIORAL
    Strength and flexibility exercises that do not involve head movements.

Study Details

Nearly 2 out of 3 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience problems with balance and mobility, which places such patients at increased risk of falling. The vestibular (inner ear balance) system plays an important role in balance stability, and vestibular therapy (VT) is well-known to improve balance function in healthy older adults. In this study, the investigators will conduct a first-in-kind randomized clinical trial to evaluate whether vestibular therapy improves reduces falls in patients with AD, in whom this treatment has never been studied.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 22, 2022
Status verified
Jan 2026
Primary completion
Aug 26, 2027
Completion
Aug 26, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Vestibular therapy
    Vestibular therapy (Vestibular physical therapy) entails an 8-week course of exercises delivered by a physical therapist designed to improve vestibular function.
  • Active Comparator: Active control
    The active control regimen consists of eye movement exercises (e.g. smooth pursuit eye movements) and also general conditioning exercises (e.g. range of motion exercises, lifting light weights with the arms and legs). This regimen is "vestibular neutral" in that head movements which specifically challenge the vestibular system are avoided.

Primary Outcome Measure

Number of participant falls [ Time Frame: 1 year ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMaryland21287
Yuri Agrawal
John Carey, MD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in Baltimore, MD

By condition
Alzheimer's disease
By specialty
NeurologyDementia careBrain disordersGeriatrics
By research site
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine· Baltimore, MD

Related Studies