Age-related changes in human optokinetic function.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ageing on optokinetic function in labyrinthine-intact human subjects. Subjects aged 18-39 years, 40-59 years and > or = 60 years were tested for sensitivity to optokinetic stimulation using latency to the illusion of circularvection in an optokinetic drum. The latency to circularvection significantly increased with increasing age. These results suggest a decline in optokinetic sensitivity with increasing age, which may be related to age-related deterioration in the optokinetic visual pathways.