Using vestibular therapy to help reduce falls in Alzheimer's patients

Clinical trial of vestibular therapy to reduce falls in patients with Alzheimer's disease

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · NIH-10778569

This study is looking at whether vestibular therapy can help improve balance and reduce falls in people with Alzheimer's who have balance issues, and it involves 100 participants who will either receive therapy or take part in a different activity for eight weeks.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER (nih funded)
Locations1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10778569 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of vestibular therapy (VT) in improving balance and reducing falls among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who experience vestibular impairment. The study involves a randomized controlled trial with 100 participants, where half will receive VT sessions once a week for eight weeks, while the other half will participate in an active control group. The goal is to determine if VT can significantly enhance balance and decrease the risk of falls, which are common and dangerous for individuals with AD.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and exhibit signs of vestibular impairment.

Not a fit: Patients with severe Alzheimer's disease or those without vestibular impairment may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new therapeutic approach that significantly reduces fall rates and improves quality of life for Alzheimer's patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that vestibular therapy is effective in improving balance in cognitively intact individuals, but this approach has not yet been tested specifically in Alzheimer's patients.

Where this research is happening

Aurora, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.