EVIDENCE OF THE RELATION BETWEEN VESTIBULAR AND COGNITIVE SYSTEMS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Vestibular disorders occur in more than 35% of adults over 40 years. The incidence increases with age. An evident effect of vestibular dysfunction is dizziness. Patients with vestibular symptoms frequently complain about difficulties in cognitive skills (attention, memory, spatial location). Objective: To answer two questions: (1) Is there a relationship between the vestibular system and the cognitive system? (2) Can physical exercising together with balance demands impact positively on body balance and cognitive functions? Methodology: We made a literature search in July 2020 in the electronic databases. Relevant studies were identified by the following criteria: papers in English, papers published between 2015 and 2020, keywords search by using the Boolean operator “AND”: “vestibular system”, “cognitive”, “cognition”, “balance training” and “exercise”. Additional criteria for inclusion or exclusion: only original articles, experimental research with humans, articles that contribute to the understanding of concepts explored in the study and articles with theoretical arguments that support or not the research. Results: Eight articles met the criteria and were considered eligible. Conclusion: The review suggests that body balance is causally involved in the performance of cognitive skills. Balance training by using physical exercise seems to be a promising intervention. It can be both a technique of cognitive intervention and improvement of corporal balance.