Aging and Balance Problems

by National Institute on Aging

About Balance Problems

As people grow older, they may have difficulty with their balance. Roughly 9 percent of adults who are 65 and older report having problems with balance.

Having good balance means being able to control and maintain your body's position, whether you are moving or remaining still. An intact sense of balance helps you

• walk without staggering
• get up from a chair without falling
• climb stairs without tripping

Photo of woman walking and carrying groceries.Good balance is important to help you get around, stay independent, and carry out daily activities.

Older Adults and Balance ProblemsMany people experience problems with their sense of balance as they get older. Disturbances of the inner ear are the main cause. People feel unsteady, or as if they were moving, spinning, or floating.

Vertigo, the feeling that you or the things around you are spinning, is also a common symptom. Experts believe that more than 40 percent of Americans will experience dizziness that is serious enough to go to a doctor.

Photo of woman in a wheel chair.Balance disorders are one reason older people fall. Falls and fall-related injuries, such as hip fracture, can have a serious impact on an older person's life. If you fall, it could limit your activities or make it impossible to live independently. Many people often become more isolated after a fall.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults ages 65 years and older fall each year. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths.

There are many types of balance disorders. One of the most common is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. With BPPV, you experience a brief, intense feeling of vertigo that occurs when you change the position of your head.

You may also experience BPPV when rolling over to the left or right, upon getting out of bed in the morning, or when looking up for an object on a high shelf. BPPV is more likely to occur in adults ages 60 and older, but can also occur in younger people.

Drawing of displaced calcium stones in the inner ear.In BPPV, small calcium stones in the inner ear become displaced, causing a person to feel dizzy. The cause of BPPV is not known, although it may be caused by an inner ear infection, head injury, or aging.

Large-scale model of the labyrinth.Another type of balance disorder is labyrinthitis. This is an infection or inflammation of the inner ear causing dizziness and loss of balance. The labyrinth is the organ in your inner ear that helps you maintain your balance.

Ménière's disease is a balance disorder that causes a person to experience

• vertigo
• hearing loss that comes and goes
• tinnitus, which is a ringing or roaring in the ears
• a feeling of fullness in the ear.

It affects adults of any age. The cause is unknown.

There are many ways to treat balance disorders. Treatments will vary depending on the cause. See your doctor if you are experiencing dizziness, vertigo, or other problems with your balance.

Quiz

1. Your sense of balance is important because it

A. helps your sense of smell.
B. helps you control and maintain your body's position.
C. helps you remember important events.

B is the correct answer. Having good balance means being able to control and maintain your body's position, whether you are moving or still. Good balance is important to help you get around, stay independent, and carry out daily activities.

2. Balance disorders

A. are rare in older people.
B. happen to all older people.
C. are common in older people.

C is the correct answer. Balance disorders are common in older people, but not everyone experiences them. Roughly 9 percent of adults who are 65 and older report having problems with balance. Experts believe that more than 40 percent of Americans will experience dizziness that is serious enough to go to a doctor.

3. Vertigo is

A. a feeling of falling.
B. the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning.
C. a fear of heights.

B is the correct answer. Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning. It is the most common form of dizziness. Vertigo is a common symptom of a balance disorder.

4. Older adults need to be especially mindful of their balance because

A. balance problems can lead to falls.
B. balance problems can limit activities.
C. balance problems can affect overall health.
D. all of the above

D is the correct answer. All of the choices are true. Balance disorders are one reason older people fall, and falls are the leading cause of injury deaths for older adults. Even a fear of falling because of a balance disorder can cause a person to limit his or her activities. A fall or a life of limited physical activity due to balance problems can lead to health problems, isolation, and loss of independence.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.