The Virtual Morris Water Task in 64 Patients With Bilateral Vestibulopathy and the Impact of Hearing Status

Bieke Dobbels*, Griet Mertens, Annick Gilles, Julie Moyaert, Raymond van de Berg, Erik Fransen, Paul Van de Heyning, Vincent Van Rompaey

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background:Previous studies have demonstrated spatial cognitive deficits in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP). However, BVP patients frequently present with a concomitant sensorineural hearing loss, which is a well-established risk factor of cognitive impairment and incident dementia. Nonetheless, previous research on spatial cognitive deficits in BVP patients have not taken hearing status into account. Objective:This study aims to compare spatial cognition of BVP patients with healthy controls, with analyses adjusting for hearing status. Methods:Spatial cognition was assessed in 64 BVP patients and 46 healthy controls (HC) by use of the Virtual Morris Water Task (VMWT). All statistical analyses were adjusted for hearing (dys)function, sex, age, education, and computer use. Results:Overall, patients with BVP performed worse on all outcome measures of the VMWT. However, these differences between BVP patients and healthy controls were not statistically significant. Nonetheless, a statistically significant link between sensorineural hearing loss and spatial cognition was observed. The worse the hearing, the longer subjects took to reach the hidden platform in the VMWT. Furthermore, the worse the hearing, the less time was spent by the subjects in the correct platform quadrant during the probe trial of the VMWT. Conclusion:In this study, no difference was found regarding spatial cognition between BVP patients and healthy controls. However, a statistically significant link was observed between sensorineural hearing loss and spatial cognition.

Original languageEnglish
Article number710
Number of pages12
JournalFrontiers in Neurology
Volume11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Aug 2020

Keywords

  • spatial cognition
  • vestibular loss
  • hearing loss
  • hippocampus
  • Morris Water Maze
  • SPATIAL MEMORY
  • COGNITIVE REHABILITATION
  • VISUOSPATIAL ABILITY
  • HIPPOCAMPAL ATROPHY
  • IMPAIRMENT
  • NOISE
  • ASSOCIATION
  • DISORDERS
  • DEMENTIA
  • REQUIRE

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