Individualized vibrotactile neurofeedback training and Ginkgo biloba special extract in presbyvertigo – a multicentre, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial

Introduction:

Vestibular rehabilitation using VertiGuard® RT individualized vibrotactile neurofeedback training (IVNT) improves balance in everyday situations and dizziness in patients with chronic vertigo, including presbyvertigo. Ginkgo biloba special-extract EGb 761® facilitates learning, improves dizziness in this patient group and enhances the effect of balance training. Synergistic effects can be expected from the combination of both treatment modalities in this difficult-to-treat population.

Methods:

Patients age 60 years and older with non-compensated multimodal vertigo for > 3 months, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) total score > 25 and fall risk > 40% assessed by the geriatric Standard Balance Deficit Tests (gSBDT) were treated with 160 mg EGb 761®/day for 12 weeks including 2 weeks individualized balance training, randomised single-blind to vibrotactile neurofeedback or insensitive sham-feedback using VertiGuard® RT.

Results:

120 out of 190 screened patients were enrolled into the trial of whom 109 received both treatments at least once. In the total sample the gSBDT fall risk improved from 56.1% to 50.6%, the DHI total score from 44.1 to 31.1. Cognitive function (Trail Making Test, difference part B – part A) improved from 70.4 s to 56.9 s in parallel, while audiometric hearing threshold remained unchanged. The combination treatment was safe and well tolerated.

Conclusions:

With the combination of IVNT and EGb 761®, improvements in the DHI in the total sample were larger, improvements in the gSBDT fall risk comparable to previous observations in this patient group treated with IVNT alone or in combination with cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate. Unblinded study results will be presented.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)