Due to the influx of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), researchers have begun to analyze their long and short-term effects, primarily vestibular dysregulation and dysfunction. Dr. Foecking, in order to articulate the complex interplay between the vestibular sense and hormone levels, notes a new solution to many patient’s problems. This solution is primarily hormone focused on testosterone implementation. Foecking executed a closed-head study on rats by stimulating TBI, castrating, and then further implementing testosterone into her subjects before testing the vestibular sense using various tests including the hanging reflex and air righting reflex tests (Foecking et al., 2022).
A similar article, done by Khitai titled "Hormones and Vestibular Disorders: The Quest for Biomarkers" aims to prove a connection between vestibular function and hormone levels, therefore, it correlates heavily to Dr. Foecking’s analysis of how testosterone implementation can aid the regeneration of neuronal connections. Although Khitai and colleague’s research does not directly address the role of testosterone in post-TBI patients, it provides insights into the more general field of vestibular function and dysfunction (Khitai et al., 2022).
Khitai summarizes and formulates a connection between a multitude of studies to conclude that aldosterone, testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, and other hormones can affect variations in vestibular function, especially regarding injuries like vertigo and Meniere’s disease. Dr. Foecking discusses ailments similar to these and how gendered post-TBI patients face vertigo and dizziness. Her study also discussed how amenorrhea, which is the absence of a menstrual cycle, is a byproduct of vestibular dysfunction and rmTBI. Khitai’s article also follows the progression of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and its prominence amongst post-menopausal women. These sex-specific effects suggest an even more profound connection between hormone regulation and the vestibular sense.
Given that patients are still unaware of the true cause and solution to their hormonal imbalances and vestibular dysfunction, there is a strong need for continued research. This will be able to further elucidate the connections between hormones and the vestibular sense to aid patients struggling with neurological conditions.
References:
El Khiati, R., Tighilet, B., Besnard, S., & Chabbert, C. (2022). Hormones and Vestibular Disorders: The Quest for Biomarkers. Brain Sciences, 12(5), 592. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12050592
Foecking, E. M., Segismundo, A., Lotesto, K., Westfall, E., Bolduan, A., Peter, T., Wallace, D. G., Kozlowski, D. A., Stubbs, E. B., Marzo, S. J., & Byram, S. C. (2022). Testosterone treatment restores vestibular function by enhancing neuronal survival in an experimental closed-head repetitive mild traumatic brain injury model. Behavioural Brain Research, 433, 113998–113998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113998
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