New insights into vestibular neuropharmacology: from bench to bedside.

Recent epidemiological investigations have highlighted the high prevalence of vestibular dysfunctions in the adult population and its association with aging. Despite a large and unmet medical need, the pharmaceutical options of targeted and efficient drugs to reduce the symptoms associated with vestibular deficits remains largely insufficient. This special issue of the Journal of Vestibular Research is devoted to the session: New insights on vestibular neuropharmacology: From bench to bedside, that was organized at the 2012 Midwinter Meeting of the Association of Research in Otolaryngology. This special issue intends 1. to emphasize the current state of the medical need for potent pharmacological treatments of vestibular deficits while highlighting questions regarding the molecular targets, the therapeutic window and the role of pharmacological treatment versus physiotherapy; 2. to give an overview of the fundamental mechanisms of vestibular system function and the mechanism of action of the drugs currently used in the treatment of vestibular disorders and 3. to present recent discoveries in basic research, that may lead to future drug identification to efficiently alleviate the vertigo crisis and protect the vestibule. This theme should target a broad audience ranging from ENT clinicians to scientists, including pharmacologists and pharmacists.