The vestibular system sub-serves a number of reflex and perceptual functions, comprising
the peripheral apparatus, the vestibular nerve, the brainstem and cerebellar
processing circuits, the thalamic relays, and the vestibular cerebral cortical network.
This system provides signals of self-motion, important for gaze and postural control,
and signals of traveled distance, for spatial orientation, especially in the dark. Current
evidence suggests that certain aspects of this multi-faceted system may deteriorate with
age and sometimes with severe consequences, such as falls. Often the deterioration in
vestibular functioning relates to how the signal is processed by brain circuits rather than
an impairment in the sensory transduction process. We review current data concerning
age-related changes in the vestibular system, and how this may be important for clinicians
dealing with balance disorders.