Why Older Adults Abandon the Exercises That Keep Them Steady

A new analysis of older adults with vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders finds that adherence to self-managed treatment varies depending on what type of recommendation is prescribed. Published in the Journal of Neurology, the study used the MobilE-TRA 2 cohort, following 337 people aged 60 and over newly assessed for a vertigo, dizziness or balance disorder at the German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders in Munich. Follow-up postal questionnaires showed high overall implementation rates—88.7% at three months and 87.2% at twelve. But patients were more likely to keep up with specific vestibular rehabilitation exercises than with lifestyle changes, which require near-continuous day-to-day behavior.