Do you get motion sickness easier as you age? What Seniors Should Know

According to the CDC, motion sickness susceptibility tends to decline with age, peaking between 7 and 12 years old before decreasing in adulthood. This may be surprising for seniors who find themselves feeling queasier than they remember, raising the question: do you get motion sickness easier as you age?

Quick Summary

Although overall susceptibility often decreases in healthy older adults due to habituation, age-related changes in the inner ear, vision, and neurological functions can increase risk for some seniors, causing conflicting signals that trigger motion sickness. Several factors, including underlying health conditions and medications, can influence an individual's vulnerability to feeling carsick or seasick.

Key Points

• Prevalence Declines with Age: In healthy adults, motion sickness typically decreases after childhood due to the brain's ability to adapt to sensory conflicts.

• Risk Factors Emerge: For some seniors, age-related changes in the inner ear, vision, and neurological functions can disrupt the balance system, potentially increasing their susceptibility.

• Inner Ear Changes Are a Factor: Deterioration of the vestibular system and conditions like Meniere's disease can impair balance and lead to motion sickness.

• Vision Plays a Crucial Role: Declining vision or conditions like Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) can create visual-vestibular mismatches that trigger symptoms.

• Medications and Health Issues: Common senior medications and medical conditions like diabetes or Parkinson's can cause dizziness and increase the risk of motion sickness.

• Management is Possible: Strategies like focusing on the horizon, proper seating, and consulting a doctor for medication can help seniors effectively manage their symptoms.

Understanding Motion Sickness and the Aging Body

Motion sickness is a complex physiological reaction triggered by a conflict between what your eyes see, what your inner ear senses, and what your body's proprioceptors (position-sensing nerves) feel. When these signals don't align—for instance, reading a book in a moving car where your eyes perceive stillness while your inner ear senses motion—the brain gets confused, leading to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

The Surprising Age-Related Trend

Contrary to what many people assume, a healthy older adult is often less susceptible to motion sickness than a child. As people move past puberty and into adulthood, their brains become more skilled at contextualizing and adapting to these sensory conflicts. However, this general trend does not apply to everyone, and for a segment of the senior population, the risk can increase. This is primarily due to a variety of age-related physiological changes that can disrupt the delicate balance system, making them feel motion sick more easily.

Why Some Seniors Are More Susceptible

Several factors contribute to an increased risk of motion sickness in some older adults:

• Changes in the Vestibular System: The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, is crucial for balance and sensing motion. With age, the delicate hair cells and fluid-filled structures in this system can deteriorate, reducing its effectiveness. This can lead to a less accurate perception of motion and position, which may either decrease overall sensitivity for some or, in others, create greater confusion and motion sickness. Conditions like Meniere's disease, which involves fluid buildup in the inner ear, also become more prevalent and can trigger severe episodes of vertigo and nausea.
• Visual System Changes: Vision plays a significant role in balance and motion perception. Conditions like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration can create visual discrepancies, sending conflicting signals to the brain. Furthermore, a condition called Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD), where a slight eye misalignment strains eye muscles, can lead to chronic motion sickness-like symptoms. The visual input from a moving environment, like scenery rushing by outside a car, becomes harder for the brain to reconcile with the body's internal sense of stability.
• Proprioceptive Decline: Proprioception is the body's awareness of its position in space. Age-related changes in the sensory nerves of the joints, muscles, and spine can weaken this sense. This can reduce the brain's ability to cross-reference movement information, compounding the sensory conflict that causes motion sickness.
• Medications and Health Conditions: Many medications common in older age, such as certain antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, and antibiotics, can have side effects that include dizziness or affect the inner ear. Additionally, medical conditions like diabetes, stroke, and Parkinson's disease can impact balance and neurological function, increasing vulnerability to motion sickness.

The Difference Between Motion Sickness and Vertigo

It's important to distinguish motion sickness from vertigo, as both can cause dizziness and nausea but have different underlying causes.

Feature	Motion Sickness	Vertigo
Cause	Conflict between visual and vestibular signals.	Problem within the inner ear or brain causing a false sensation of motion.
Trigger	Travel in vehicles, boats, airplanes, or immersive virtual reality.	Often triggered by specific head movements, inner ear infections, or other underlying conditions.
Sensation	Queasiness, nausea, dizziness, cold sweats.	A sensation of spinning or whirling, as if the world is moving around you.
Management	Focusing on the horizon, medication, fresh air, limiting head movement.	Repositioning maneuvers (e.g., Epley maneuver), medication specific to the underlying cause.

Managing Motion Sickness in Older Adults

For seniors experiencing increased motion sickness, several strategies can help manage and reduce symptoms:

1. Select the Right Seat: In a car, the front seat is often best for viewing the horizon. On a plane, seats over the wing experience the least motion. On a boat, choose a cabin near the water level and toward the center.
2. Focus on a Fixed Point: Staring at a distant, stationary object, such as the horizon, can help resynchronize the visual and vestibular systems. Avoid reading or looking at screens, which can worsen the sensory conflict.
3. Use Behavioral Techniques: Acclimatizing to motion gradually, if possible, can help the brain adapt. Minimizing head movement by resting it against the seat can also be effective.
4. Consider Medications: First-generation antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Antivert) can be effective, though they may cause drowsiness. Scopolamine patches are another option but require a prescription and careful consultation with a doctor due to potential side effects. Always discuss medications with a healthcare provider.
5. Explore Complementary Therapies: While evidence is mixed, some people find relief with alternative remedies. Ginger, in capsules or tea, is a popular natural anti-nausea remedy. Acupressure wristbands are also used, though their efficacy varies among individuals.
6. Maintain Good Health: A balanced diet, adequate sleep, and avoiding alcohol and heavy meals before travel can help. Good hydration is also crucial for preventing dehydration, which can worsen symptoms.

Conclusion

While motion sickness susceptibility often decreases in old age, it's not a universal rule. Age-related changes affecting the inner ear and vision, combined with medications and other health issues, can make some seniors more prone to the condition. Understanding these factors and implementing management strategies can help older adults travel and move through daily life more comfortably. Consulting a healthcare provider is essential to rule out other medical conditions and find the best approach for managing symptoms. You can learn more about general motion sickness prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-air-sea/motion-sickness.html).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to get motion sickness more easily as you get older?

While general susceptibility decreases with age in healthy individuals, it's not uncommon for some older adults to experience more motion sickness. This is often due to age-related changes in the inner ear, vision, or other medical conditions, rather than a universal trend.

What is the primary cause of motion sickness in seniors?

The main cause is a sensory conflict in the brain, where signals from the eyes, inner ears, and proprioceptors don't match up. In seniors, this is often exacerbated by age-related changes in these sensory systems.

How can I tell if my dizziness is motion sickness or something else?

Motion sickness is triggered by actual or perceived motion, while vertigo often feels like a spinning sensation even when you are still. Vertigo can be caused by inner ear disorders or other conditions, so it's best to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Are there specific seating arrangements that can help prevent motion sickness?

Yes. In a car, sit in the front seat and look at the horizon. On a plane, choose a seat over the wings where motion is minimized. On a boat, staying near the center and water level can help.

What common medications might increase my risk of motion sickness?

Many medications can cause dizziness or affect the inner ear, including certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications. Always discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider.

Can diet changes help with motion sickness in older adults?

Yes. Eating light, bland meals and avoiding heavy, greasy, or spicy foods before and during travel can help. Staying well-hydrated and avoiding alcohol is also beneficial.

Is it true that ginger can help with motion sickness?

Ginger is a popular natural remedy for nausea, and many people find it helpful for motion sickness. It is generally considered safe to try, but you should still consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking other medications.