MRI Performance and Risk Factors in Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction

Bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) is a chronic disorder in which the balance organs or vestibular pathways on both sides do not work normally. People with BVH may experience unsteadiness, blurred or unstable vision during head movement, difficulty walking, and an increased risk of falls. At present, there are limited targeted medical treatments, and the reasons why symptoms are severe in some patients but mild in others are not fully understood.

This prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study will investigate the relationships among vestibular function, brain structure and function, blood biomarkers, patient-reported symptoms, and disease severity in people with BVH. The study will enroll approximately 120 participants from five medical centers in China, including about 80 patients with BVH and 40 age-matched healthy controls.

Participants will undergo vestibular function tests, including videonystagmography, caloric testing, sinusoidal harmonic acceleration testing, video head impulse testing, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and sensory organization testing. Brain imaging will include resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and diffusion kurtosis imaging. Participants will also complete questionnaires related to dizziness, anxiety and depression, daily activities, and symptom severity, and blood samples will be collected for biochemical and inflammatory marker testing.

The main hypothesis is that BVH severity is associated with measurable changes in vestibular function, brain functional connectivity and microstructure, inflammatory or metabolic biomarkers, and patient-reported quality of life. By combining clinical testing, neuroimaging, laboratory measures, and symptom scales, this study aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms of BVH and to support future development of more individualized diagnostic and rehabilitation strategies.