Improving balance and walking in older adults with gentle vestibular electrical stimulation
Official title: Novel Neuromodulation Treatment of Age Related Vestibular Loss to Improve Balance and Gait in Elderly Individuals
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11381316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This uses very small, nearly unnoticeable electrical pulses to the balance system to help balance and walking in older adults with age-related vestibular loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $173,180 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG073161-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with documented age-related vestibular hypofunction or unexplained balance and gait problems who can attend clinic visits and follow device instructions.
✕Less likely to help
People whose balance problems are primarily from non-vestibular causes (for example severe peripheral neuropathy, advanced Parkinsonism, or unstable medical conditions) or who have incompatible implanted electrical devices may not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
You would get low-level, random electrical stimulation delivered near the vestibular system (around the ear) that is usually too small to feel. Treatment would be given repeatedly over time while clinicians measure balance reflexes and walking performance. The team will compare function before and after the stimulation and may use control (sham) procedures to separate real effects from placebo. The goal is to find safe stimulation settings that produce lasting improvements in balance and gait for older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve balance and walking and reduce fall risk using a noninvasive, low-risk device.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small studies, including work from this team, have shown improvements in vestibular reflexes, balance, and gait with subperceptual stimulation, but longer-term sustained benefit has not yet been proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Serrador, Jorge M. — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Serrador, Jorge M.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.