DR. VARSHA RAGHU,DR. DEEPAK RAJ,DR. NISHIT KAKKA,DR.M. SIVAKUMAR
DOI: https://doi.org/Background: Vestibular disorders, including Vestibular Migraine (VM), Meniere's Disease (MD), and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), are known to impact balance and spatial orientation, potentially leading to cognitive impairments. However, the extent of cognitive decline in these patients remains unclear, especially over a longitudinal period.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the cognitive decline in patients with vestibular disorders compared to healthy controls over a 12-month period, using standardized cognitive assessment tools.
Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 45 patients with vestibular disorders (15 each of Meniere's disease, BPPV, and vestibular migraine) and 45 age-matched healthy controls participated. The “Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)” and “Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)”had beenemployed to measure cognitive function both at baseline and one year later. To assess cognitive changes within and across groups, statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and paired t-tests.
Results: After 12 months, patients with vestibular disorders exhibited minimal cognitive decline compared to healthy controls. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups, and the MoCA and MMSE scores stayed relatively constant (p > 0.05). Patients with Meniere's disease showed a little higher decline in MoCA scores than those with BPPV or vestibular migraine, although this difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Vestibular disorders, particularly Vestibular Migraine and Meniere's Disease, are associated with minimal cognitive decline over a 12-month period. These findings reassure patients and clinicians that vestibular dysfunction does not inherently lead to progressive cognitive deterioration. Further studies with larger cohorts are recommended.
