Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 11:28 AM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:08 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00059501
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2008-03-04
First Post:
2003-04-26
Brief Title:
Postural Control in the Elderly
Sponsor:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS
Organization:
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center CC
Study Overview
Official Title:
Cortical Control of Postural Stability in the Elderly
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2005-03
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
None
Brief Summary:
This study will examine loss of balance in the elderly Falls due to balance problems are a major health issue in older people often resulting in bone fractures and other bodily injuries and functional decline In addition the fear of falling leads some elderly people to restrict their movements and social activities causing depressed moods and decreased enjoyment of life Risk factors for falling in the elderly include some standing positions in which older people usually experience balance problems such as leaning forward or backward This study will examine these unstable positions and the brain mechanisms associated with loss of balance in the elderly
Normal volunteers between 20 and 90 years of age may be eligible for this study Candidates must be in good health with no difficulties in performing activities of daily living and must be able to walk for at least 400 meters 14 mile They will be screened with a medical history physical examination and blood tests
Participants will undergo the following three experiments
Movement task The subject stands on a platform with markers placed at different parts of the body to record body movements A cap with electrodes metal disks is placed on the head for electrocardiographic EEG recording of the electrical activity of the brain brain waves during the experiment The positions of the feet on the platform are measured While standing on the platform the subject leans forward and backward as far as possible without losing balance Subjects are secured in a safety harness to prevent actual falls The task is repeated 5 times The experiment lasts up to 2 hours
Postural response task This study is identical to the first except that the subject does not voluntarily lean forward and backward but is pushed with a device to cause forward and backward movements The experiment lasts 1 to 2 hours
Perceptual task The subject sits in front of a computer screen and watches the postural movements of a human body model in forward and backward directions When the subject recognizes an unstable position in the movements he or she presses a computer mouse An EEG records brain activity during the task which lasts up to 2 hours
Normal volunteers between 20 and 90 years of age may be eligible for this study Candidates must be in good health with no difficulties in performing activities of daily living and must be able to walk for at least 400 meters 14 mile They will be screened with a medical history physical examination and blood tests
Participants will undergo the following three experiments
Movement task The subject stands on a platform with markers placed at different parts of the body to record body movements A cap with electrodes metal disks is placed on the head for electrocardiographic EEG recording of the electrical activity of the brain brain waves during the experiment The positions of the feet on the platform are measured While standing on the platform the subject leans forward and backward as far as possible without losing balance Subjects are secured in a safety harness to prevent actual falls The task is repeated 5 times The experiment lasts up to 2 hours
Postural response task This study is identical to the first except that the subject does not voluntarily lean forward and backward but is pushed with a device to cause forward and backward movements The experiment lasts 1 to 2 hours
Perceptual task The subject sits in front of a computer screen and watches the postural movements of a human body model in forward and backward directions When the subject recognizes an unstable position in the movements he or she presses a computer mouse An EEG records brain activity during the task which lasts up to 2 hours
Detailed Description:
A number of studies have explored the role of visual vestibular and somatosensory systems in the control of upright posture However the cortical control of postural stability in general and the role of higher cognitive function in assessment of postural stability in specific has been less studied It is well established that certain features of postural control change during the advancing years of life so that the stability of posture can be a problem in the elderly However neural mechanisms of postural stability that decline with age and make older adults more prone to falling have not been identified specifically To characterize specific causes of falling in the elderly in problematic because human posture is a product of an extremely complex dynamical system and like any other physical activity undergoes dramatic changes in organization throughout the life-span In our previous research we showed the existence of specialized neural detectors that are embodied in spatiotemporal patterns of brain activiation Slobounov et al 200 capable of discrimination the unstable postures in dynamic situations We propose that these neural detectors may deteriorate with aging which result in difficulty to a initiate compensatory postural adjustments when balance is in danger and b to discriminate relevant from irrelevant information in control of upright posture This can be documented via changes in behavioral correlates of postural control and spatiotemporal patterns of the brain activation as a function of advanced age Accordingly the purpose of this study is to investigate the age-related cortical control of postural stability combining electroencephalography and postural control measures This will be done when a subject physically approaches the postural stability boundary and when a subject solves a cognitive task identifying unstable postures in dynamic situations
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None
Secondary IDs
| Secondary ID | Type | Domain | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03-N-0165 | None | None | None |