Thalamus & Balance Problems

Maintaining your balance depends on several sensory systems in your brain, one of which is the thalamus. If this system is damaged from disease or trauma, you may experience problems maintaining your balance while walking or even just standing. If you are having balance issues, you should consult with your doctor to obtain a proper medical diagnosis.

Identification

• The thalamus is the top part of the midbrain responsible for relaying sensory information. It takes sensory input from the body in the form of auditory, visual and somatosensory signals. Once these signals are processed, new signals are relayed for motor control.

Balance

• We take being able to stand, walk and run for granted. Being able to balance requires you to take spatial information from your visual system and proprioceptive data (understanding spatial relationships of your body to the space around you) to make constant assessments and instant adjustments. To do this, your vestibular system, visual system and auditory system must be attuned and work in sync with the cerebellum. The vestibular system is a tiny set of bones located in the ear that works like a carpenter's balance to let us know if we are standing straight, bending or otherwise positioned. The cerebellum coordinates motor function based on sensory data. All of these systems work together by using the thalamus as a relay station.

Impairment

• Thalamus function can be impaired by many medical conditions. These include stroke, lesions and tumors. Other diseases that affect the thalamus and balance are muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's and Hutchinson disease. These conditions can cause the nerve channels in the thalamus to break down and either not send the information or slow it down.

Diagnosis

• Diagnostic imaging is required to see any damage to the thalamus. Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CAT) scans are most commonly used when examining the soft tissue of the brain. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans are good diagnostic tools. Any abnormalities in the shape, size and density of the thalamus that suggest damage or disease will show up on these scans.

Symptoms and Treatment

• If you are having balance problems, you may get dizzy when you stand up after being in a sitting position. You may fall frequently or have trouble focusing your eyes on objects.
  For diseases in which the nerves have been damaged, there is little that can be done to treat symptoms. You may go through physical therapy to improve strength and stamina when standing, but this may only mitigate some of the problems. If damaging factors can be halted (tumors removed, post-stroke), you may be able to retrain your brain to develop new pathways.